<![CDATA[Abstract Protective immunity of tuberculosis (TB) infection is highly dependent on the balance of Th1 and Th2 cytokines. TNF-α cytokines produced by Th1 cell retain a latent status, and IL-4 produced by Th2 aids in the production of antibodies. The recent development of the vaccine candidates shows that rESAT-6- CFP-10 fusion antigen is specific to induce protective immune responses. The objective of the study was to determine the immune response. This study used a quasi experimental design in the laboratory in vitro with cultured PBMC of patients with new cases of pulmonary TB, latent TB and healthy individuals. Examination of TNF-α and IL-4 levels was done by ELISA. The highest TNF-α mean levels were 866,05 in the latent TB group, compared to 814,56 in active TB and 414,58 in healthy individuals, but they were not significantly different. The highest IL-4 mean levels were 1,39 in the active TB group, compared to 0,88 in latent TB and 0,74 in healthy individuals, but they were not significantly different. High levels of TNF-α and low levels of Il-4 in latent TB post-stimulation of rESAT-6-CFP-10 fusion antigen show that the candidate vaccine is capable of providing protective reponse against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Key words : TNF-α, IL-4, PBMC, ELISA, rESAT-6-CFP-10 Abstrak Imunitas protektif terhadap infeksi tuberculosis sangat bergantung terhadap keseimbangan sitokin T-helper (Th)-1 dan Th2. Sitokin TNF-α yang disekresi oleh sel Th1 mampu mempertahankan status laten, dan IL-4 yang disekresi oleh Th2 membantu produksi antibodi. Pengembangan kandidat vaksin terbaru yaitu antigen fusi rESAT-6-CFP-10 bersifat spesifik terhadap respons imun protektif. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengetahui respons imun seluler melalui kadar TNF-α dan IL-4 pasca stimulasi antigen fusi rESAT-6-CFP-10. Penelitian ini menggunakan desain eksperimen semu di laboratorium secara in vitro pada kultur PBMC. Pemeriksaan kadar sitokin TNF-α dan IL-4 dengan metode ELISA. Rerata kadar TNF-α pasca stimulasi paling tinggi ditemukan pada kelompok TB laten 866,05, dibandingkan TB aktif 814,56 dan orang sehat 414,58, tetapi tidak berbeda bermakna. Reratakadar IL-4 pasca stimulasi paling tinggi ditemukan pada kelompok TB aktif, dibandingkan TB laten dan orang sehat, tetapi tidak berbeda bermakna. Kadar TNF-α yang tinggi dan kadar IL-4 yang rendah pada TB laten pasca stimulasi antigen fusi rESAT-6-CFP-10 menunjukkan bahwa kandidat vaksin mampu memberikan repons protektif terhadap infeksi Mycobacterium tuberculosis secara invitro. Kata kunci : TNF-α, IL-4, PBMC, ELISA, rESAT-6-CFP-10.]]>
