T cell-mediated immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific antigens

The "T cell-mediated immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific antigens" refers to the activation and function of T lymphocytes, primarily CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, in response to peptides derived from Mtb proteins (such as ESAT-6, Ag85B, CFP-10) that are presented by antigen-presenting cells. After infection, there is a notable delay before adaptive (T cell) immunity is activated, attributed to slow migration of live bacteria or their antigens from the lungs to draining lymph nodes, where naive T cells are primed. These antigen-specific T cells then expand and migrate to the lung, where they mediate pathogen control through secretion of interferon-gamma and other cytokines, activating macrophages and contributing to granuloma formation—a hallmark of tuberculosis. This protective immune response is critical for controlling Mtb but does not always result in sterilizing immunity, and excessive activation can contribute to tissue pathology. The process is assessed in humans using diagnostic assays such as the tuberculin skin test and interferon-gamma release assays.

Other names

T cell response to MtbT cell-mediated immunity in tuberculosisadaptive immune response to Mtb antigenscell-mediated immunity against MtbT lymphocyte response to tuberculosis antigens