title: Detection of interleukin-2 in addition to interferon-gamma discriminates active tuberculosis patients, latently infected individuals, and controls.
abstract: Effective control of tuberculosis (TB) includes discrimination of subjects with active TB from individuals with latent TB infection (LTBI). As distinct interferon (IFN)-gamma and interleukin (IL)-2 profiles of antigen-specific T-cells have been associated with different clinical stages and antigen loads in several viral and bacterial diseases, we analysed these cytokines in TB using a modified QuantiFERON-TB Gold In Tube test. Detection of IL-2 in addition to IFN-gamma distinguishes not only Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected subjects from healthy controls, but also individuals with LTBI from active TB patients. This may help to improve diagnostic tests for TB.
authors.affiliation: Aeronautica Militare Italiana, Servizio Sanitario, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Biselli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mariotti
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sargentini
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sauzullo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lastilla
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mengoni
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vanini
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Girardi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goletti
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: D' Amelio
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nisini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: C508594:IL2 protein, human; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007371:Interferon-gamma