title: Frequent detection of anti-tubercular-glycolipid-IgG and -IgA antibodies in healthcare workers with latent tuberculosis infection in the Philippines.
abstract: Anti-tubercular-glycolipid-IgG (TBGL-IgG) and -IgA (TBGL-IgA) antibodies, and the QuantiFERON-TB Gold test (QFT) were compared in healthcare workers (HCWs, n = 31) and asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus-carriers (HIV-AC, n = 56) in Manila. In HCWs, 48%, 51%, and 19% were positive in QFT, TBGL-IgG, and -IgA, respectively. The TBGL-IgG positivity was significantly higher (P = 0.02) in QFT-positive than QFT-negative HCWs. Both TBGL-IgG- and -IgA-positive cases were only found in QFT-positive HCWs (27%). The plasma IFN-γ levels positively correlated with TBGL-IgA titers (r = 0.74, P = 0.005), but not TBGL-IgG titers in this group, indicating that mucosal immunity is involved in LTBI in immunocompetent individuals. The QFT positivity in HIV-AC was 31% in those with CD4+ cell counts >350/μL and 12.5% in low CD4 group (<350/μL). 59 % and 29% were positive for TBGL-IgG and -IgA, respectively, in HIV-AC, but no association was found between QFT and TBGL assays. TBGL-IgG-positive rates in QFT-positive and QFT-negative HIV-AC were 61% and 58%, and those of TBGL-IgA were 23% and 30%, respectively. The titers of TBGL-IgA were associated with serum IgA (P = 0.02) in HIV-AC. Elevations of TBGL-IgG and -IgA were related to latent tuberculosis infection in HCWs, but careful interpretation is necessary in HIV-AC.
authors.affiliation: Division of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8574, Japan.
authors.forename: Umme Ruman
authors.initials: UR
authors.lastname: Siddiqi
authors.forename: Prisca Susan A
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Leano
authors.forename: Haorile
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chagan-Yasutan
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shiratori
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saitoh
authors.forename: Yugo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ashino
authors.forename: Yasuhiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hattori
authors.forename: Elizabeth Freda O
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Telan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002353:Carrier State; D005260:Female; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D055985:Latent Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology*; D010679:Philippines; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
chemical_list: D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D006017:Glycolipids; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; C049937:anti-IgA; C048844:anti-IgG; D007371:Interferon-gamma