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Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis is associated with low plasma concentrations of human neutrophil peptides 1-3.

SETTING
Human neutrophil peptides 1, 2 and 3 (HNP1-3) are involved in innate host defence and acquired immune response, which is possibly associated with the genesis of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB).


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between HNP1-3 and MDR-TB.


DESIGN
We divided 42 patients with post-primary pulmonary TB into two groups according to their drug susceptibility test results: the drug-susceptible group (n = 21) and the MDR-TB group (n = 21). The concentration of HNP1-3 in the plasma of all specimens was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay before treatment and 6, 18 and 24 months after. Duration of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in sputum and peripheral blood neutrophil counts were measured at the same time.


RESULTS
Before treatment, the plasma HNP1-3 concentration in the MDR-TB group was lower than that of healthy controls and the drug-susceptible group. After treatment, plasma HNP1-3 concentrations were higher than pre-treatment levels in the MDR-TB group, but were still lower than in healthy controls or the drug-susceptible group. The concentration of HNP1-3 was negatively correlated with the duration of M. tuberculosis in sputum, while it was positively correlated with neutrophils.


CONCLUSION
MDR-TB is associated with low plasma concentrations of HNP1-3.