Role of Interleukin-12 Cytokine in the Cellular Response to Mycobacterial Disease AL-Enzi Raafat M.1,*, Tarrad Jawad Kadhim1, Wtwt Moshtak A.1 1College of Medicine, University of Babylon, Hillah, Iraq *Corresponding Address: Raafat M. AL-Enzi, College of Medicine, University of Babylon, Hillah, Iraq, Email: raafatanzi80@yahoo.com
Online published on 23 December, 2019. Abstract Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a multifunctional cytokine acting as a key regulator of cell-mediated immune responses through the differentiation of naive CD4+ T cells into type 1 helper T cells (Th1) producing interferon-gamma. IL-12 act as a chemoattractant for macrophages, promotes the migration of stimulated dendritic cells and associated with several pathogenic inflammatory responses such as a mycobacterial infection. This study, have suggested that IL-12 could play a vital role in treating mycobacterial diseases. This case-controlled study used The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect the role of IL-12 in 42 patients with pTB who were referred to consultant clinic for respiratory diseases in Hillah-Babylon province/Iraq during the period from December 2017 to July 2018, and 42 healthy persons’ control. Blood samples were collected from both groups according to the standard methods. Data analysis revealed that median serum level of IL-12 in patients was 38.91 pg/mL (range 15.68–540.29 pg/mL) which was significantly higher than controls (34.06 pg/mL, range 10.97–672.44 pg/mL) (P= 0.042). IL-12 Cytokine showed significant protective role against Mycobacterium tuberculosis through activated Th1 cellular immunity. Top Keywords Interleukin 12, Mycobacterial infection, Tuberculosis. Top |