IMMUNOPHENOTYPING AND FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF NK CELL SUBSETS IN Mycobacterium tuberculosis-INFECTED INDIVIDUALS

Infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis remains a global health challenge, with diverse clinical outcomes ranging from latent TB (LTB) infection to active TB disease (ATB). We conducted a comprehensive analysis of NK cell subsets and function in individuals with LTB, ATB, and healthy controls to elucidate their potential association with TB pathogenesis. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from Mtb-infected individuals and analyzed by mass cytometry and flow cytometry. We identified distinct NK cell subsets and evaluated their functional responses to stimulation. Our findings revealed comparable frequencies of total and NK cell subsets across LTB, ATB, and controls. Functional assays demonstrated similar degranulation, cytokine production, and proliferation capabilities among NK cell subsets across the three groups. This study provides insights into the heterogeneity of NK cell responses in TB and highlights the need for standardized methodologies with well-characterized cohorts controlling for donor background. Further investigations are warranted to delineate the specific roles of NK cells in TB immunity and pathogenesis.