Mycobacteria-Granulomas

Mycobacterial Infections

Dr Patsy Lill
Professor Emerita
University of South Carolina School of Medicine

Granulomas

An 89-year-old man presented with weight loss of 38 lbs over the past 4 years. He appeared extremely thin and was very weak. His BP was 123/72 and his temperature was 37.3. PPD was negative. He died 2 days after admission to the hospital. At autopsy his lungs, spleen (shown below), adrenals, and kidneys were filled with numerous small granulomas. M. tuberculosis was cultured from his lungs.

Which mediator is critical for driving macrophages to become able to kill the mycobacteria and limit the infection?
1. IL-1
2. IL-6
3. Interferon-gamma
4. TNF (tumor necrosis factor)
5. PDGF (platelet-derived growth factor)

ANSWER

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Pathology questions by Dr Patsy Lill