Tuberculous lymphadenitis (TBL) is associated with decreased frequencies of natural regulatory T cells (nTregs), which exhibit a negative relationship with mono- and multifunctional Th1 cells in TB-infected individuals.

<p>(<i>A</i>) Percentages of nTregs (defined as CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺CD127^dim by flow cytometry) in tuberculous lymphadenitis (TBL) and pulmonary TB (PTB) individuals. (<i>B–E</i>) <i>Ex vivo</i> frequencies of nTregs were correlated with the baseline frequency of CD4⁺ T cells expressing IFN-γ alone (<i>B</i>), IL-2 alone (<i>C</i>). IFN-γ, IL-2, and TNF-α (<i>D</i>), or IL-17A, IL-17F, and IFN-γ (<i>E</i>) in all TB-infected individuals (<i>n</i> = 45). <i>P</i> values were calculated using the Spearman rank correlation test.