title: Cytokine responses to QuantiFERON® peptides, purified protein derivative and recombinant ESAT-6 in children with tuberculosis.
abstract: METHODS
  Recent data suggest that interferon-gamma release assays may have reduced sensitivity in children.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore the cellular responses in children infected with tuberculosis (TB) to different mycobacterial antigens, including the peptides used in the QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT) assay.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cytokines were measured by multiplex analyte detection in supernatants after stimulation with peptides in QFT, purified protein derivative (PPD) and recombinant whole protein ESAT-6. Samples from 11 children with active TB, 46 healthy children with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), and 35 healthy non-infected children were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the cytokines examined in the QFT peptide stimulation assay distinguished between non-infected children and those aged <5 years with LTBI. Cytokines interleukin-2 and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) were shown to distinguish between stages of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection after blood was stimulated with the QFT peptides. All children had significantly higher Th 1 and 2 cytokine production against PPD than against the other antigens tested.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Measuring specific cytokine patterns after stimulation with the QFT peptides may not increase sensitivity in diagnosing LTBI in children, but there may be future diagnostic value in determining the stage of infection. PPD-stimulated blood produced a robust and diverse cytokine response in young children, making it an interesting antigen for in vitro diagnostic studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA. lightj03@med.nyu.edu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lighter-Fisher
authors.forename: C-H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Tse
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D055985:Latent Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014373:Tuberculin / Q000276:immunology; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D016207:Cytokines; C093276:ESAT-6 protein, Mycobacterium tuberculosis; D014373:Tuberculin; D007371:Interferon-gamma