Targeted gene expression profiling of human myeloid cells from blood and lung compartments of patients with Tuberculosis and other lung diseases

This was a pilot study aimed at uncovering the role of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (myeloid-derived suppressor cell) in patients with Tuberculosis and differences between cells found in peripheral blood and in the lung. Fluidigm™ RT-PCR technology was used to quantify expression levels of 43 genes in monocytecytes and myeloid-derived suppressor cell from peripheral blood and monocytecytes and alveolar macrophages from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid taken from patients with Tuberculosis or other lung diseases. Gene expressions levels were compared between lung and blood derived cells within and between TB patients and healthy controls