Elevated expression of T-bet in mycobacterial antigen-specific CD4 + T cells from patients with tuberculosis

•T-bet expression in antigen-specific CD4+ T cells was significantly higher in patients with TB.•Antigen-specific CD4+T-bet+ T cells had higher frequency of TEM than T-bet− cells.•Expression of PD-1 was higher in CD4+CD154+T-bet+ T cells than CD4+CD154+T-bet− T cells.•T-bet expression might be associated with differentiation into TEM and PD-1 expression.