Henan Xin1, Haoran Zhang1, Xuefang Cao1, Xiangwei Li1, Mufei Li1, Boxuan Feng1, Qi Jin1, Lei Gao2. 1. MOH Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, and Center for Tuberculosis, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 9 Dong Dan San Tiao, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100730, China. 2. MOH Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, and Center for Tuberculosis, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 9 Dong Dan San Tiao, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100730, China. Electronic address: gaolei@ipbcams.ac.cn.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Frequent reversion has been commonly observed in serial QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT) tests, which limited its accuracy in defining the status of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection. Serum cytokine profiles might provide additional information to clarify the infection status. METHOD: Based on a population-based cohort study aiming to track MTB infection acquisition and disease development, serum profiles of 12 cytokines were determined by bead-based multiplex assays in parallel with QFT and tuberculin skin tests (TST) to explore potential relation between serum cytokines and MTB infection status. RESULTS: Totally, 309 subjects got QFT conversion in one year (2013-2014) and 46.92% (145/309) of them got reversion in 2015. The study subjects were classified into three groups according to their QFT and TST results in 2015 (QFT persistence positive, QFT-/TST + and QFT-/TST-). The serum levels of MCP-1 and IL-8 were significantly different among the three groups. Furthermore, level of IL-8 was dramatically lower in QFT-/TST- group as compared to the other two groups, and no significant difference was observed for QFT-/TST + group as comparing with persistent positive group. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that the decreased serum level of IL-8 might be potential biomarker to identify QFT reversion caused by infection clearance.
BACKGROUND: Frequent reversion has been commonly observed in serial QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT) tests, which limited its accuracy in defining the status of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection. Serum cytokine profiles might provide additional information to clarify the infection status. METHOD: Based on a population-based cohort study aiming to track MTB infection acquisition and disease development, serum profiles of 12 cytokines were determined by bead-based multiplex assays in parallel with QFT and tuberculin skin tests (TST) to explore potential relation between serum cytokines and MTB infection status. RESULTS: Totally, 309 subjects got QFT conversion in one year (2013-2014) and 46.92% (145/309) of them got reversion in 2015. The study subjects were classified into three groups according to their QFT and TST results in 2015 (QFT persistence positive, QFT-/TST + and QFT-/TST-). The serum levels of MCP-1 and IL-8 were significantly different among the three groups. Furthermore, level of IL-8 was dramatically lower in QFT-/TST- group as compared to the other two groups, and no significant difference was observed for QFT-/TST + group as comparing with persistent positive group. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that the decreased serum level of IL-8 might be potential biomarker to identify QFT reversion caused by infection clearance.