A 32 year old man presents with a 3-month history of weight loss, night sweats, a productive cough with blood-tinged sputum, anorexia, general malaise, and a low grade fever. A PPD skin test shows > 10 mm of induration. If the area of induration were biopsied, which of the following type of reactive cells would be found?

Correct Answer: T lymphocyte
Description: The CD4+ population of T lymphocytes, specifically TH1 cells, are responsible for the delayed hypersensitivity reaction seen with a skin test in a previously sensitized patient. The clinical pattern in the test question is classic for reactivation or adult-type tuberculosis. B lymphocytes are involved in humoral immune reactions. Antibody production is not a feature of tuberculin hypersensitivity. Eosinophils are impoant in type I hypersensitivity reactions and in immune mediated responses to parasitic infections (ADCC). They are not associated with tuberculin hypersensitivity. Mast cells are tissue cells which are involved in type I hypersensitivity reactions. They have surface receptors for the Fc fragment of the IgE molecule.
Category: Microbiology
Share:

Get More
Subject Mock Tests

Practice with over 200,000 questions from various medical subjects and improve your knowledge.

Attempt a mock test now
Mock Exam

Take an exam with 100 random questions selected from all subjects to test your knowledge.

Coming Soon
Get More
Subject Mock Tests

Try practicing mock tests with over 200,000 questions from various medical subjects.

Attempt a mock test now
Mock Exam

Attempt an exam of 100 questions randomly chosen from all subjects.

Coming Soon
WordPress › Error

There has been a critical error on this website.

Learn more about troubleshooting WordPress.