Multiple cytokine analysis based on QuantiFERON-TB gold plus in different tuberculosis infection status: an...

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Infectious Diseases
• Diagnostics

Background:

• Tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis requires more efficient methods.
• QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) can detect multiple cytokine secretions.
• Identifying optimal cytokines can improve TB infection status differentiation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore multiple cytokine secretions using QFT-Plus.
• To screen for cytokines with diagnostic potential for TB infection status.
• To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of various cytokines.

Main Methods:

• Whole blood samples from active TB (ATB), latent TB infection (LTBI), previous TB, and healthy controls (HC) were stimulated with QFT-Plus TB1 and TB2 antigens.
• Multiplex assays measured levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2, IL-6, IL-5, IL-10, IP-10, IL-1Ra, CXCL-1, and MCP-1.
• Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis assessed diagnostic accuracy.

Main Results:

• Cytokine levels (except IL-5 in TB2) were significantly higher in ATB patients compared to HC.
• IL-1Ra and IP-10 showed high area under the curve (AUC) for distinguishing TB infection from HC.
• IP-10 demonstrated the largest AUC for differentiating ATB from non-ATB and LTBI patients.

Conclusions:

• IP-10 and IL-1Ra show significant potential for discriminating TB infection status.
• Measuring IP-10 and IL-1Ra with QFT-Plus complements IFN-γ detection.
• These markers may enhance the diagnostic capabilities for various TB infection statuses.