Abstract |
Cytotoxic molecules such as granulysin, perforin and granzymes produced by cytolytic T cells directly contribute to immune defense against tuberculosis (TB). In search for novel TB biomarkers, we have evaluated the levels of granzyme A in plasma obtained from QuantiFERON-TB Gold In tube (QFT-IT) assays from patients with active TB disease and subjects with latent TB infection (LTBI). Granzyme A serum levels in TB patients were significantly lower than values found in LTBI subjects even after subtraction of the unstimulated levels from the antigen-stimulated responses. The receiver operator characteristics (ROC) curve analysis comparing TB patients and LTBI groups, showed that at a cut-off value of granzyme A of <3.425pg/ml, the sensitivity and the specificity of the assay were 29.41% and 94.74%, respectively. Our results suggest that granzyme A could be considered another biomarker of TB, that can be used, other than IFN-γ, to discriminate between patients with active TB and LTBI subjects in a well characterized cohort of confirmed Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected individuals.
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Authors | Giuliana Guggino, Valentina Orlando, Stella Cutrera, Marco P La Manna, Diana Di Liberto, Valentina Vanini, Elisa Petruccioli, Francesco Dieli, Delia Goletti, Nadia Caccamo |
Journal | Immunology letters
(Immunol Lett)
Vol. 166
Issue 2
Pg. 87-91
(Aug 2015)
ISSN: 1879-0542 [Electronic] Netherlands |
PMID | 26051682
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Copyright | Copyright © 2015 European Federation of Immunological Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. |
Chemical References |
- Antigens, Bacterial
- Biomarkers
- Interferon-gamma
- Granzymes
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Topics |
- Adult
- Antigens, Bacterial
(immunology)
- Biomarkers
- Case-Control Studies
- Female
- Granzymes
(blood, metabolism)
- Humans
- Interferon-gamma
(blood, metabolism)
- Latent Tuberculosis
(diagnosis, immunology, metabolism)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis
(immunology)
- ROC Curve
- Tuberculosis
(diagnosis, immunology, metabolism, microbiology, prevention & control)
- Young Adult
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