@article{8073e8b74009431d9a24a7e35e3c8026,
title = "Cellular immune responses to ESAT-6 discriminate between patients with pulmonary disease due to Mycobacterium avium complex and those with pulmonary disease due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis",
abstract = "ESAT-6 (for 6-kDa early secreted antigenic target) is a secreted antigen found almost exclusively in organisms of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. We compared in vitro gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) responses by peripheral blood mononuclear cells to this antigen in patients with pulmonary disease due to either Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) or Mycobacterium tuberculosis with those in healthy, skin test-negative, control subjects. Significant IFN-gamma responses to ESAT-6 were detected in 16 (59%) of 27 M. tuberculosis pulmonary disease patients, 0 (0%) of 8 MAC disease patients, and 0 (0%) of 8 controls. Significant IFN-gamma responses to M. tuberculosis purified protein derivative were detected in 23 (85%) of 27 M. tuberculosis disease patients, 2 (25%) of 8 MAC disease patients, and 5 (63%) of 8 healthy controls. M. avium sensitin was recognized in 24 (89%) of 27 M. tuberculosis disease patients, 4 (50%) of 8 MAC disease patients, and 1 (13%) of 8 controls. IFN-gamma responses to ESAT-6 are specific for disease due to M. tuberculosis and are not observed in patients with MAC disease or in healthy controls.",
keywords = "Adult, Aged, Antigens, Bacterial, Bacterial Proteins, Female, Humans, Immunity, Cellular, Interferon-gamma, Leukocytes, Mononuclear, Male, Middle Aged, Mycobacterium avium Complex, Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Skin Tests, Tuberculin Test, Tuberculosis, Pulmonary",
author = "Lein, {A D} and {von Reyn}, {C F} and P Ravn and Horsburgh, {C R} and Alexander, {L N} and P Andersen",
year = "1999",
language = "English",
volume = "6",
pages = "606--9",
journal = "Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology",
issn = "1071-412X",
publisher = "American Society for Microbiology",
number = "4",
}