Abstract

Introduction.Protective immunityof tuberculosis (TB) infection is highly dependent on the balance of Th1 and Th2 cytokines. TNF-α cytokines that produce by Th1 cell retain a latent status, and IL-4 that produce by Th2 aids in the production of antibodies. The recent development of the vaccine candidate shows that rESAT-6-CFP-10 fusion antigen is specific to induce protective immune responses. The objective of the study was to determine the immune response through the differences in levels of TNF-α and IL-4 post-stimulation of rESAT-6-CFP-10 fusion antigen. Method.This study used aquasi experimentaldesignin the laboratoryin vitrowith culturedPBMC ofpatients withnew casesof pulmonaryTB, latent TBandhealthy individuals. Examination ofTNF-α and IL-4 levels was done by ELISA. Results. The highest TNF-α mean levels were 866,05 in the latent TB group, compared to814,56 in active TB and 414,58 in healthy individuals, but were not significantly different. The highest IL-4 mean levels were 1,39 in the active TB group, compared to 0,88 in latent TB and 0,74 in healthy individuals, but were not significantly different. Conclusion. There were no significant differences in levels of TNF-α and IL-4 post-stimulation of rESAT-6-CFP-10 fusion antigens in all three groups