Systemic and local immune phenotype and function of patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis and tuberculosis

Aims: The etiolgy of sarcoidosis unknown, however the histopathological and cytopathological findings and the radiological appearance can mimic tuberculosis (TB). We ascertained whether differences exist in the immunophenotype and antimycobacterial immuneresponses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and broncho-alveolar mononuclear cells (BALMC) of patients with sarcoidosis and minimal pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods: Patients were prospectively recruited at the Medical Clinic of the Research Center Borstel and the Hospital Großhansdorf in Germany. Immunophenotyping with monoclonal antibodies against CD…