title: Level of interferon gamma in the blood of tuberculosis patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Interferon gamma (IFN-γ), a cytokine produced by a variety of cells is involved in the immune response against M. tuberculosis. It activates the production of other cytokines and molecules that kill mycobacterium. IFN-γ also has diagnostic role in identification of active and latent tuberculosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the level of IFN-γ in the blood of TB patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-one subjects were selected, including 54 active TB patients and 37 healthy controls. Among 54 TB patients, 27 had confirmed TB and 27 were. Clinically diagnosed as having TB. IFN-γ concentration was determined in their blood by an ELISA technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In TB patients, Mean + SD of IFN-γ was 48.69 + 28.78 pg/ml while it was 12.99 + 5.70 pg/ml in the control group (p <0.001). Significant differences in the level of IFN-γ were observed among confirmed TB patients, clinically diagnosed TB patients and the control group (Mean + SD 59.68 + 28.78, 36.85 + 24.76 and 12.99 + 5.70 pg/ml, respectively). Furthermore, a significant negative correlation was observed between the concentration of IFN-γ in TB patients and the duration of anti-tuberculosis therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IFN-γ level was high in both clinically diagnosed and confirmed TB patients as compared to a control group. Measurement of IFN-γ production is helpful to diagnose active tuberculosis, but further research is required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Shahid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.forename: Nadeem
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Afzal
authors.forename: Khursheed
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Javaid
authors.forename: Muhammad Ikram
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Ullah
authors.forename: Tanveer
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.lastname: Saleem-Uz-Zaman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006403:Hematologic Tests; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007371:Interferon-gamma