As early secreted antigenic target of 6 kDa (ESAT-6) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is an essential virulence factor and macrophages are critical for tuberculosis infection and immunity, we studied ESAT-6 stimulated IL-6 production by macrophages. ESAT-6 stimulated significantly higher IL-6 secretion by murine bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDM) compared to culture filtrate protein 10 k...

background: tuberculosis is a disease with high morbidity, caused mainly by mycobaterium tuberculosis (m.tb.). dna vaccines show a promising future due to their unique advantages over conventional methods. the early-secreted antigen target (esat)-6 and culture filtrate protein (cfp)-10 of m.tb. antigens have been identified as vaccine candidates against mycobacteria and used as subunit vaccines...

We reported previously that the early secreted antigenic target of 6 kDa (ESAT-6) from Mycobacterium tuberculosis directly inhibits human T cell IFN-γ production and proliferation in response to stimulation with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28. To determine the mechanism of this effect, we treated T cells with kinase inhibitors before stimulation with ESAT-6. Only the p38 MAPK inhibitor, SB203580, abrog...

In this paper we describe identification and characterization of Mycobacterium leprae ESAT-6 (L-ESAT-6), the homologue of M. tuberculosis ESAT-6 (T-ESAT-6). T-ESAT-6 is expressed by all pathogenic strains belonging to the M. tuberculosis complex but is absent from virtually all other mycobacterial species, and it is a promising antigen for immunodiagnosis of tuberculosis (TB). Therefore, we ana...

The ESAT-6 (early secretory antigenic target) molecule is a very important target for T cell recognition during infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Although ESAT-6 contains numerous potential T cell epitopes, the immune response during infection is often focused toward a few immunodominant epitopes. By immunization with individual overlapping synthetic peptides in cationic liposomes (cat...

Background: Macrophage immune responses are affected by the secretory proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). This study aimed to examine the immune responses of macrophages to Mtb secretory antigens, namely ESAT-6, CFP-10, and ESAT-6/CFP-10.Methods: THP-1 cells (a human monocytic cell line) were cultured and differentiated to macrophages by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. The cytotoxici...

Background: Tuberculosis is a disease with high morbidity, caused mainly by Mycobaterium tuberculosis (M.tb.). DNA vaccines show a promising future due to their unique advantages over conventional methods. The early-secreted antigen target (ESAT)-6 and culture filtrate protein (CFP)-10 of M.tb. antigens have been identified as vaccine candidates against Mycobacteria and used as subunit vaccines...

Early secreted antigenic target of 6 kDa (ESAT-6) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a T cell Ag that is a potential vaccine candidate, but it is also a virulence factor that mediates pathogenicity. To better understand the effects of ESAT-6 on the immune response, we studied the effect of ESAT-6 on human dendritic cells (DCs). Peripheral blood monocytes were treated with GM-CSF and IL-4 to yield...

background: macrophage immune responses are affected by the secretory proteins of mycobacterium tuberculosis (mtb). this study aimed to examine the immune responses of macrophages to mtb secretory antigens, namely esat-6, cfp-10, and esat-6/cfp-10. methods: thp-1 cells (a human monocytic cell line) were cultured and differentiated to macrophages by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. the cytotoxic...