Li Wu, Deng Guangcun, Li Min, Liu Xiaoming, Wang Yujiong
Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Conservation and Utilization of Special Biological Resources in the Western, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750021, China ; College of Life Science, Ningxia University, 539 W. Helanshan Road, Xixia District, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750021, China.
Tuberc Res Treat. 2012;2012:791728. doi: 10.1155/2012/791728. Epub 2012 Nov 1.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), is one of the world's leading infectious causes of morbidity and mortality. As a mucosal-transmitted pathogen, Mtb infects humans and animals mainly through the mucosal tissue of the respiratory tract. Apart from providing a physical barrier against the invasion of pathogen, the major function of the respiratory mucosa may be to serve as the inductive sites to initiate mucosal immune responses and sequentially provide the first line of defense for the host to defend against this pathogen. A large body of studies in the animals and humans have demonstrated that the mucosal immune system, rather than the systemic immune system, plays fundamental roles in the host's defense against Mtb infection. Therefore, the development of new vaccines and novel delivery routes capable of directly inducing respiratory mucosal immunity is emphasized for achieving enhanced protection from Mtb infection. In this paper, we outline the current state of knowledge regarding the mucosal immunity against Mtb infection, including the development of TB vaccines, and respiratory delivery routes to enhance mucosal immunity are discussed.
结核分枝杆菌（Mtb）是结核病（TB）的病原体，是全球导致发病和死亡的主要感染原因之一。作为一种通过黏膜传播的病原体，Mtb主要通过呼吸道的黏膜组织感染人类和动物。除了提供抵御病原体入侵的物理屏障外，呼吸道黏膜的主要功能可能是作为启动黏膜免疫反应的诱导部位，并依次为宿主抵御这种病原体提供第一道防线。大量在动物和人类中的研究表明，黏膜免疫系统而非全身免疫系统在宿主抵御Mtb感染中发挥着基础性作用。因此，强调开发能够直接诱导呼吸道黏膜免疫的新型疫苗和新型给药途径，以实现增强对Mtb感染的保护。在本文中，我们概述了关于针对Mtb感染的黏膜免疫的当前知识状态，包括结核病疫苗的发展，并讨论了增强黏膜免疫的呼吸道给药途径。
