Abstract
Introduction:
To evaluate the performance of MTB-specific cellular responses of two Th1 cytokines, IFN-γ and IL-2, in differentiating ATB from LTBI in China.
Methods:
Fifty-nine microbiologically diagnosed ATB were enrolled with a LTBI group including 45 asymptomatic health workers with positive results of T-SPOT.TB. The Fluorospot assay based on ESAT-6 and CFP-10 was performed to measure secreting of IFN-γ and IL-2.
Results:
ESAT-6-and CFP-10-specific cellular responses of IFN-γ and IL-2 showed identical patterns. The frequencies and proportions of antigen-specific IFN-γ-only-secreting T cell in TB patients were significantly higher than those of LTBI, while the proportions of IL-2-only-secreting T cell showed a reverse pattern.
The frequencies and proportions of cytokines secreting T cell in patents with ATB and LTBI
By ROC curve analysis, a cut-off value of 136 iSFCs/106PBMC for the sum of ESAT-6- and CFP-10-specific IFN-γ-only-secreting T cells showed a sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 80% for the diagnosis of ATB.
Conclusion:
Fluorospot assay detecting IFN-γ and IL-2 based on ESAT-6 and CFP-10 could be helpful in differentiating ATB from LTBI.
- © 2014 ERS
