The effectiveness of interferon gamma inclusion in the tuberculosis chemotherapy: experimental study

Abstract

Introduction. Currently, in phthisiology there is a need for new drugs and medicines with new mechanisms of action that could be effective against sensitive and resistant forms of tuberculosis, as well as prevent the development of mycobacterium resistance to anti-tuberculosis drugs, reduce the duration of treatment and the financial burden of this nosology.

Aim of the study is the evaluation of the therapeutic effect of interferon gamma adding to Isoniazid therapy of tuberculosis in guinea pigs caused by the M. tuberculosis H37Rv strain sensitive to all anti-tuberculosis medicines.

Material and methods. We evaluated the effectiveness of treatment by such indicators as animal life expectancy, weight gain, the presence and intensity of bacterial excretion by microscopy and culture, as well as the nature and severity of histological changes in internal organs.

Results. As a result of studying the therapeutic effect of the drug Ingaron (human recombinant interferon gamma) in infection caused by M. tuberculosis H37Rv, we noted potentiation of the antitubercular effect of a well-known drug Isoniazid in a guinea pig model. M. tuberculosis was not detected in culture from lung and spleen tissues from animals treated by the combined therapy. In addition, we saw minimal histological changes in the lung tissue of animals received Isoniazid in combination with interferon gamma, and they were completely absent in the spleen tissue of animals of this group.

Discussion. During the millennial evolution of the TB pathogen with the host organism, both sides have developed various options for mutual containment, which allows this parasitic system to exist in dynamic equilibrium for a long time. Recent studies have confirmed the results presented in this article, showing that interferon gamma can increase the antibacterial activity of Isoniazid and lead to complete sterilization of cultures, including phenotypically resistant to Isoniazid mycobacteria. Thus, the balance can be shifted towards complete abacillation and a successful clinical outcome of the infectious disease.

Conclusion. Adding the immunomodulatory drug Ingaron in the therapy of drug-sensitive tuberculosis with Isoniazid made it possible to achieve the cessation of bacterial excretion faster; in addition, histological changes in internal organs were less pronounced in animals treated by combination therapy in comparison to animals received only Isoniazid.

Keywords:experimental tuberculosis; human recombinant interferon gamma; Isoniazid

For citation: Vakhrusheva D.V., Krasnoborova S.Yu., Petrunina E.M. The effectiveness of interferon gamma inclusion in the tuberculosis chemotherapy: experimental study. Immunologiya. 2023; 44 (2): 209–18. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33029/0206-4952-2023-44-2-209-218 (in Russian)

Funding. The work is supported by a research contract with SPP Pharmaclon Ltd.

Conflict of interests. Authors declare no conflict of interests.

Authors’ contribution. Research planning, data analysis, writing text, material editing, approval of the final version of the article – Vakhrusheva D.V., Krasnoborova S.Yu.; experimental studies – Petrunina E.M.

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