Chemokine IP-10: an adjunct marker for latent tuberculosis infection in children.
METHODS
Recent reports indicate a role of chemokine inducible protein 10 (IP-10) in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection substantiated by the detection of elevated levels in plasma and at infection foci in individuals infected with M. tuberculosis.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate IP-10 as a potential marker for the diagnosis of M. tuberculosis infection in children living in a region of low tuberculosis (TB) prevalence.


METHODS
IP-10 levels were obtained after whole blood stimulation with M. tuberculosis-specific antigens in 127 children. IP-10 results were evaluated upon gradations of exposure risk to M. tuberculosis and correlation with tuberculin skin test and an interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA).


RESULTS
IP-10 reactivity correlated well to risk of exposure to M. tuberculosis in children. There was a strong correlation between IP-10 and IGRA results. IP-10 responses, unlike interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), were not age-dependent and detected more positive results in children aged <5 years. In the children with active disease, the IGRA was more sensitive than IP-10 at detecting M. tuberculosis infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that IP-10 in combination with IFN-gamma may enhance the diagnostic performance of IGRAs in detecting M. tuberculosis infection, especially in young children.
Lighter
Jennifer
J
Saul Krugman Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, USA. lightj03@med.nyu.edu
Rigaud
M
M
Huie
M
M
Peng
C-H
CH
Pollack
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D054357:Chemokine CXCL10 / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology; D009519:New York City; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology
D015415:Biomarkers; D054357:Chemokine CXCL10; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic