The influence of human immunodeficiency virus infection on the course of tuberculosis and leprosy. Different immunological reactions

Tuberculosis and leprosy are diseases afflicting people since ancient times, especially in developing countries. The consecutive factor HIV came into existence in the 1980s, which changed the course of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium leprae infections with disadvantageous effects on epidemiological situations. The clinical course indicates highly different reactions in tuberculosis and leprosy with HIV/AIDS coinfection. The present state of knowledge concerning the differences in the activation and interaction of the immunological system in HIV/TB and HIV/leprosy is presented. Tuberculosis and leprosy are granulomatous diseases. The quantitative and qualitative differences of lymphocytes CD4+, CD8+, Treg, lymphatic B cells and macrophages in the formation of granuloma in both diseases are discussed. As a result the coinfection with HIV/AIDS in tuberculosis leads to dangerous complications and often to death, while simultaneous HIV and leprosy infections have an independent course with better prognosis. Stem cells are of great importance in the discovery of tuberculosis and leprosy latent infections, creating new therapeutic and diagnostic possibilities.

There is an increasing frequency of HIV infection and still a high level of tuberculosis morbidity in Poland. These facts indicate the necessity of HIV investigations in cases of tuberculosis and with regard to tuberculosis in HIV infected persons.