Elsevier

Mucosal Immunology

Volume 4, Issue 3, May 2011, Pages 252-260
Mucosal Immunology

Article
Role of innate cytokines in mycobacterial infection

https://doi.org/10.1038/mi.2011.13Get rights and content
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Abstract

Cells of the innate immune system produce cytokines and lipid mediators that strongly influence the outcome of mycobacterial infection. In the case of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the lung is a critical site for this interaction. Here, we review current information on the role of the major innate cytokine pathways both in controlling initial infection as well as in promoting and maintaining adaptive T-cell responses that mediate host resistance or immunopathology. Understanding this important feature of the host–pathogen interaction can provide major insights into the mechanisms of virulence and can lead to new approaches for immunological intervention in tuberculosis and other mycobacterial diseases.

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Published online: 23 3 2011

Supplementary information The online version of this article (doi:10.1038/mi.2011.13) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.