Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by the intracellular pathogen Mycobacterium Mtb tuberculosis ( Mtb ) remains one of the leading causes of infectious disease mortality worldwide. The outcome of a host encounter with Mtb is determined by a complex and multifaceted immune response that evolves from initial infection control to the formation of a specific granuloma and, in some cases, to destructive progressive disease. This review systematizes current understanding of the key immunological changes in the human body during pulmonary tuberculosis, encompassing both innate and adaptive immune mechanisms. We examine the role of various immunocompetent cells (macrophages, dendritic cells, neutrophils, T- and B-lymphocytes), cytokine networks, and immunopathological processes that underlie defense against Mtb but also contribute to lung tissue damage. Particular attention is paid to the mechanisms that allow Mtb to evade the immune response and the factors determining the transition from latent infection to active disease.

tuberculosis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis , immunopathogenesis , granuloma, macrophages, T-lymphocytes, cytokines, immune evasion.

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