Evaluation of tuberculosis diagnostic biomarkers in immunocompromised hosts based on cytokine levels in QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus. (September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Imoto, Sahoko; Suzukawa, Maho; Takeda, Keita; Motohashi, Takumi; Nagase, Maki; Enomoto, Yu; Kawasaki, Yuichiro; Nakano, Eri; Watanabe, Masato; Shimada, Masahiro; Takada, Kazufumi; Watanabe, Shizuka; Nagase, Takahide; Ohta, Ken; Teruya, Katsuji; Nagai, Hideaki
• Is Part Of: Tuberculosis. Volume 136(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-09
• Subjects: Tuberculosis -- QuantiFERON-TB Gold plus -- CD4+ T cell -- CD8+ T cell -- Biomarker -- Immunocompromised host; Tuberculosis TB -- Interferon IFN -- IFN-γ release assays IGRAs -- QuantiFERON-TB QFT -- Human immunodeficiency virus-1 HIV-1 -- Early secreted antigenic target 6-kDa ESAT-6 -- Culture filtrate protein 10 CFP-10 -- Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist IL-1Ra -- Tumor necrosis factor TNF -- IFN-γ-induced protein 10 IP-10 -- Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 MCP-1 -- Macrophage inflammatory protein-1β MIP-1β -- Platelet-derived growth factor PDGF -- Regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted RANTES -- body mass index BMI -- latent tuberculosis infection LTBI; 616.995
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tube.2022.102242
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1472-9792

Abstract

Abstract: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a serious health concern globally. QuantiFERON-TB (QFT) is a diagnostic tool for TB detection, and its sensitivity is reduced in immunocompromised hosts with low T lymphocyte counts or abnormal T cell function. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between T cell and cytokine levels in patients with active TB using QFT-Plus. Forty-five patients with active TB were enrolled, and the cytokines in QFT-Plus tube supernatants were quantified using the MAGPIX System. CD4 + T cell count negatively correlated with patient age ( p < 0.001, r = −0.51). The levels of TB1-responsive interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) and IL-2 correlated with CD4 + T cell count, whereas the levels of TB2-responsive IL-1Ra and IFN-γ-induced protein 10 correlated with both CD4 + and CD8 + T cell counts. Cytokines that correlated with CD4 + and CD8 + T cell counts might not be suitable TB diagnostic biomarkers in immunocompromised hosts. Notably, cytokines that did not correlate with the T cell counts, such as monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, might be candidate biomarkers for TB in immunocompromised hosts. Our findings might help improve TB diagnosis, which could enable prompt treatment and minimize poor disease outcomes. Highlights: CD4 + T cell count negatively correlated with the age of patients with tuberculosis. TB1-responsive IL-1Ra and IP-10 correlated with CD4 + T cell count. TB2-responsive IL-1Ra and IP-10 correlated with CD4 + and CD8 + T cell counts. Cytokines that correlate with T cell counts are unreliable biomarkers of TB. MCP-1 may be a useful diagnostic biomarker of TB in immunosuppressed hosts.