Fig. 2

The role of the immune system in M. tuberculosis infection: The innate immune system response in M. tuberculosis infection, includes alveolar macrophages and dendritic cells that act as the first line defense, and then the acquired immunity also activated, as a second arm, in parallel. In order to remove intracellular bacterial infections by activating macrophages, NKCs and granulocytes at the site of infection, mycocidal activity initiates, leading to the formation of granuloma. After identification and engulfment of the pathogen by phagocytic cells, such as dendritic cells and macrophages, bacterial components that are known as antigenic agents are delivered to lymphocytic cells. T lymphocyte detects antigenic agents through antigen-presenting cells, such as B cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells, and then redirected to production of cytokines (CD4+) or cytotoxic compounds (CD8+) after activation