PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - M. Ruhwald
AU  - T. Bodmer
AU  - C. Maier
AU  - M. Jepsen
AU  - M. B. Haaland
AU  - J. Eugen-Olsen
AU  - P. Ravn
ED  - ,
TI  - Evaluating the potential of IP-10 and MCP-2 as biomarkers for the diagnosis of tuberculosis
AID  - 10.1183/09031936.00055508
DP  - 2008 Dec 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - 1607--1615
VI  - 32
IP  - 6
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/32/6/1607.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/32/6/1607.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2008 Dec 01; 32
AB  - The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential of diagnostic tests based on interferon-γ inducible protein (IP)-10 and monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-2, and compare the performance with the QuantiFERON TB® Gold In-Tube (QFT-IT; Cellestis, Carnagie, Australia) test. IP-10 and MCP-2 were determined in supernatants from whole blood stimulated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific antigens. Samples were obtained from 80 patients with culture- and/or PCR-proven tuberculosis (TB), and 124 unexposed healthy controls: 86 high school students and 38 high school staff. IP-10 and MCP-2 test cut-offs were established based on receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. TB patients produced significantly higher levels (median) of IP-10 (2158 pg·mL−1) and MCP-2 (379 pg·mL−1) compared with interferon (IFN)-γ (215 pg·mL−1). The QFT-IT, IP-10 and MCP-2 tests detected 81, 83 and 71% of the TB patients; 0, 3 and 0% of the high school students and 0, 16 and 3% of the staff, respectively. Agreement between tests was high (>89%). By combining IP-10 and IFN-γ tests, the detection rate increased among TB patients to 90% without a significant increase in positive responders among the students. In conclusion, interferon-γ inducible protein-10 and monocyte chemotactic protein-2 responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific antigens could be used to diagnose infection. Combining interferon-γ inducible protein-10 and interferon-γ may be a simple approach to increase the detection rate of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific in vitro tests.