Complement regulatory proteins: Candidate biomarkers in differentiating tuberculosis pleural effusion.

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Medical Diagnostics
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Complement activation plays a crucial role in tuberculosis pleural effusion (TPE).
• The diagnostic value of complement regulatory proteins (CD46, CD55, and CD59) in TPE remains underexplored.
• Understanding these proteins can aid in differentiating TPE from other pleural effusions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the expression levels of soluble CD46 (sCD46), soluble CD55 (sCD55), and soluble CD59 (sCD59) in pleural effusion.
• To evaluate the diagnostic and co-diagnostic potential of these proteins in TPE.
• To compare their efficacy with Adenosine Deaminase (ADA) and assess combined diagnostic value.

Main Methods:

• Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to quantify sCD46, sCD55, and sCD59 levels in pleural effusion samples from 99 patients.
• Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated to assess diagnostic performance.
• Correlation analysis was performed between protein levels, ADA levels, and TPE diagnosis.

Main Results:

• Patients with TPE exhibited significantly lower levels of sCD46, sCD55, and sCD59 compared to non-TPE patients.
• Expression levels of sCD46, sCD55, and sCD59 were negatively correlated with ADA levels.
• The diagnostic efficacy of individual proteins (sCD46, sCD55, sCD59) was comparable to ADA, with AUC values around 0.85-0.89.
• Combined detection of sCD46, sCD55, sCD59, and ADA demonstrated improved diagnostic accuracy for TPE.

Conclusions:

• Soluble complement regulatory proteins CD46, CD55, and CD59 are potential biomarkers for accurate TPE diagnosis.
• Their combined use with ADA assay offers enhanced diagnostic value for tuberculosis pleural effusion.
• These findings highlight the role of complement regulation in TPE pathogenesis and diagnosis.