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Circulating immune complexes in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with tuberculous meningitis
A Mathai1, V V Radhakrishnan, S Sehgal
1Department of Pathology, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum, India.
Insights
Circulating immune complexes (CICs) containing Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen 5 were found in 30% of tuberculous meningitis patients. CIC levels decrease with treatment, aiding therapeutic monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Diagnostics
Background:
- Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) diagnosis can be challenging.
- Circulating immune complexes (CICs) are implicated in various inflammatory conditions.
- Identifying biomarkers for TBM is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and significance of CICs in patients with TBM.
- To determine if Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen 5 can be detected in CICs.
- To evaluate the potential of CICs as a marker for monitoring TBM treatment.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of CICs from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) using polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation.
- Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen 5 within CICs using sandwich ELISA.
- Comparison of CIC levels in TBM patients versus those with other neurological diseases.
Main Results:
- CICs were detected in the CSF of TBM patients.
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen 5 was identified in CICs from 30% of TBM patients.
- CIC levels demonstrated a decrease during antituberculosis chemotherapy.
Conclusions:
- Detection of CICs containing Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen 5 is feasible in TBM patients.
- CIC levels may serve as a valuable indicator for monitoring the efficacy of antituberculosis therapy.
- Further research can explore the diagnostic and prognostic utility of CICs in TBM.
Abstract:
Circulating immune complexes (ICs) were isolated from cerebrospinal fluids (CSFs) of patients with tuberculous meningitis (TBM), non-tuberculous neurological diseases by a polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation method. Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen 5 was detected in CICs of 30% patients with TBM, by sandwich ELISA. CIC level decreases during antituberculosis chemotherapy and therefore its detection can provide a method to monitor the therapeutic schedule in patients with TBM.