Mycobacteria-specific IL-1RA response as a potential correlate of treatment success in active and latent tuberculosis infection

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Mycobacteria-specific IL-1RA response as a potential correlate of treatment success in active and latent tuberculosis infection. Vanessa Clifford, Marc Tebruegge, Christel Zufferey, Susie Germano, Ben Forbes, Lucy Cosentino, Elizabeth Matchett, Emma McBryde, Damon Eisen, Roy Robins-Browne, Alan Street, Justin Denholm, Nigel Curtis.  Pathology 49 (Feb 2017): S59.


Summary

Objective: An accurate biomarker of successful tuberculosis (TB) treatment would be a major advance, and ultimately assist in control of the TB pandemic. Currently available commercial immunodiagnostic tests are not adequate for this purpose.

Aim: This study aimed to determine changes in mycobacteriaspecific antigen-induced cytokine biomarker responses in patients receiving treatment for active or latent TB, to identify potential biomarkers correlating with treatment success.

Methods: 33 adults with active TB and 36 with latent TB infection were followed longitudinally over therapy, with whole blood assays using mycobacteria-specific antigens (CFP-10, ESAT-6, PPD). Cytokine responses (IL-1ra, IL-2, IL-10, IL-13, TNF-a, IFN-g, IP-10 and MIP-1b) were measured by Luminex xMAP multiplex immunoassays at 0,1,3,6 and 9 months. Results: Mycobacteria-specific cytokine responses changed significantly over time, and their kinetics in patients with active TB differed from those observed in patients with latent TB infection. Mycobacteria-specific IL-1ra response is a potential correlate of successful treatment in active and latent TB infection.

Discussion: Mycobacteria-specific cytokine responses, and in particular IL-1ra response, may be useful in future immunodiagnostic tests to monitor treatment for active and latent TB infection.

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