Mononuclear cells were isolated from the peripheral blood of healthy donors, cord blood and TB pleural fluid, and expression of CXCR3 and CC chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4), cytokines and cytolytic molecules by CD4<sup>+</sup> T-cells with or without stimulation were analysed using fluorescence-activated cell sorting.
Our findings suggest that CD4<sup>+</sup>Foxp3<sup>+</sup> cells play a time-dependent role in tuberculosis and highlight that CCR4 plays a critical role in the balance of IFN-γ-mediated inflammation by regulating the influx and function of CD4<sup>+</sup>Foxp3<sup>+</sup> cells.