[HTML][HTML] Identification of T-Cell Antigens Specific for Latent Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Infection
SD Schuck, H Mueller, F Kunitz, A Neher, H Hoffmann… - PloS one, 2009 - journals.plos.org
SD Schuck, H Mueller, F Kunitz, A Neher, H Hoffmann, KLCM Franken, D Repsilber…
PloS one, 2009•journals.plos.orgBackground T-cell responses against dormancy-, resuscitation-, and reactivation-associated
antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis are candidate biomarkers of latent infection in
humans. Methodology/Principal Findings We established an assay based on two rounds of
in vitro restimulation and intracellular cytokine analysis that detects T-cell responses to
antigens expressed during latent M. tuberculosis infection. Comparison between active
pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients and healthy latently M. tuberculosis-infected donors …
antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis are candidate biomarkers of latent infection in
humans. Methodology/Principal Findings We established an assay based on two rounds of
in vitro restimulation and intracellular cytokine analysis that detects T-cell responses to
antigens expressed during latent M. tuberculosis infection. Comparison between active
pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients and healthy latently M. tuberculosis-infected donors …
Background
T-cell responses against dormancy-, resuscitation-, and reactivation-associated antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis are candidate biomarkers of latent infection in humans.
Methodology/Principal Findings
We established an assay based on two rounds of in vitro restimulation and intracellular cytokine analysis that detects T-cell responses to antigens expressed during latent M. tuberculosis infection. Comparison between active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients and healthy latently M. tuberculosis-infected donors (LTBI) revealed significantly higher T-cell responses against 7 of 35 tested M. tuberculosis latency-associated antigens in LTBI. Notably, T cells specific for Rv3407 were exclusively detected in LTBI but not in TB patients. The T-cell IFNγ response against Rv3407 in individual donors was the most influential factor in discrimination analysis that classified TB patients and LTBI with 83% accuracy using cross-validation. Rv3407 peptide pool stimulations revealed distinct candidate epitopes in four LTBI.
Conclusions
Our findings further support the hypothesis that the latency-associated antigens can be exploited as biomarkers for LTBI.
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