Premium
Lipoarabinomannan‐specific TNF ‐α and IFN ‐γ as markers of protective immunity against tuberculosis: a cohort study in an endemic setting
Author(s) -
Belay Mulugeta,
Legesse Mengistu,
Mihret Adane,
Bekele Yonas,
Bjune Gunnar,
Abebe Fekadu
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
apmis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1600-0463
pISSN - 0903-4641
DOI - 10.1111/apm.12423
Subject(s) - lipoarabinomannan , medicine , tuberculosis , immunology , mycobacterium tuberculosis , tumor necrosis factor alpha , cytokine , immunity , interferon gamma , immune system , pathology
Lipoarabinomannan ( LAM ) is a virulent factor used for entry and survival of M ycobacterium tuberculosis ( M tb) in macrophages. Although the role of LAM for the diagnosis of tuberculosis ( TB ) has been extensively investigated, its cytokine response during natural M tb infection in humans is largely unknown. In this study, LAM ‐specific IFN ‐γ, TNF ‐α, and IL ‐10 levels following whole blood assay were measured in untreated pulmonary TB patients, their contacts and community controls at baseline. In treated patients and contacts, cytokines were also measured at 6 and 12 months. At entry, 52.8% and 74.8% of controls and contacts were QFT ‐ GIT positive, respectively. At baseline, untreated TB patients and contacts had significantly lower IFN ‐γ and TNF ‐α response compared to community controls (p < 0.0001). Besides, untreated patients had significantly higher TNF ‐α and IL ‐10 response compared to their contacts (p < 0.0001). At 6 months, contacts and treated TB patients had significantly increased INF ‐γ and TNF ‐α response (p < 0.0001). In TB patients, IFN ‐γ increased 10‐fold following chemotherapy suggesting its potential role for treatment monitoring. The data suggests that LAM might have an anti‐inflammatory effect during clinical TB and early M tb infection. The data also suggests that LAM ‐induced IFN ‐γ and TNF ‐α could be used as biomarkers of protective immunity.