RESUMEN
Objective To evaluate the utility of CD4+ TCR tetramers‐based flow cytometric analysis and cell climbing slice assay in detecting antigen‐specific CD14+ monocytes in the blood of tuberculosis (TB) patients .Methods CD4+ TCR tetramers were used to detect tetramer‐positive CD14+ monocytes in the peripheral blood (PBL ) samples of inpatients with advanced pulmonary TB (PTB) by flow cytometric analysis .The PBL samples obtained from non‐TB patients and umbilical cords were used as controls .These tetramers were also used to examine tetramer‐bound CD14+ monocytes and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) antigen‐specific and tetramer‐bound cells by cell climbing slice in situ staining .Results The median percentage of tetramer‐bound CD14+ monocytes in PBL samples from PTB patients ,non‐TB patients and umbilical cords were 1 .32% , 0 .50% and 0 .26% respectively by using CD4+ Vα21‐J39/Vβ29‐D1‐J2 tetramer , while the medians were 1 .05% , 0 .49% and 0 .19% respectively by using CD4+ Vα21‐J39/Vβ29‐D2‐J2 tetramer . The percentage of tetramer‐bound CD14+ monocytes in PTB patients group was significantly higher than the other two control groups .In cell climbing slice in situ staining ,tetramer‐bound CD14+ monocytes ,and MTB antigen‐specific and tetramer‐bound cells were positive in PTB tissue compared with negative in control tissues . Conclusions CD4+ TCR tetramers‐based flow cytometric analysis and cell climbing slice assay could be used to sensitively detect M TB antigen‐specific CD14+ monocytes in the blood of TB patients ,and more accurately evaluate the changing profile and clinical significance of these cells in TB patients .