Significant Increase in Natural-killer T Cells in Patients with Tuberculosis Complicated by Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

This study examined the frequency of V alpha 24(+)/V beta 11(+) natural-killer T (NKT) cells from peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients with or without diabetes mellitus (DM). The clinical grade of TB was significantly higher among diabetic patients. NKT cells from both peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage were significantly increased in diabetic TB patients compared with non-diabetic TB patients. This may be due to the generally higher bacillary burden in diabetic TB patients. NKT cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells in TB patients with or without DM were significantly increased, compared with levels in non-TB diabetic patients and healthy controls. The measurement of NKT cells from peripheral blood has the potential to be a reliable, non-invasive, practical diagnostic marker for active TB.