title: Is IP-10 a better biomarker for active and latent tuberculosis in children than IFNgamma?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The blood based interferon-gamma release assays (IGRA) for the diagnosis of tuberculosis do not discriminate between active TB disease and latent TB infection (LTBI). The search for distinguishing biomarkers therefore continues, as the accurate diagnosis of tuberculosis is particularly challenging in children. IFN-gamma-inducible protein 10 (IP-10/CXCL10) has recently been evaluated as a marker for active TB in adults with promising results.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate this new biomarker for active TB and LTBI in paediatrics.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured IP-10 levels using ELISA in supernatants of whole blood samples stimulated with TB-specific-antigens and negative control antigen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IP-10 is produced in high levels following mycobacterial antigen stimulation in active TB (n = 17) and LTBI (n = 16) compared to controls (n = 16) and to IFN-gamma. The baseline levels of IP-10 are increased in active TB and in LTBI, but there is no significant difference of stimulated levels of IP-10 between active TB and LTBI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IP-10 is a biomarker for tuberculosis in children. However like IFNgamma, IP-10 also does not distinguish between active TB and LTBI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom. e.whittaker@imperial.ac.uk
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Whittaker
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kampmann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D054357:Chemokine CXCL10 / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D015415:Biomarkers; C114753:CXCL10 protein, human; D054357:Chemokine CXCL10; D007371:Interferon-gamma