title: Flow cytometry analysis of CD4+IFN-γ+ T-cells for the diagnosis of mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.
abstract: CD4+ cells expressing Interferon-γ (IFN-γ), following stimulation with specific mycobacterial antigens, identified with flow cytometry (FCM-CD4+IFN-γ+), is a new method for the diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection. The aim of this study is to investigate the performance of FCM-CD4+IFN-γ+ in comparison with tuberculin skin test (TST) and Quantiferon TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-G-IT) in the diagnosis of latent MTB infection (LTBI), in close contacts and in patients with rheumatic diseases under treatment with anti-TNFa and other biologic agents.
  
  
  
  TST, QFT-G-IT, and FCM-CD4+IFN-γ+ were performed in 56 immunocompetent close contacts and in 65 medically immunosuppressed patients under biologic treatment.
  
  
  
  In close contacts, 63% were FCM-CD4+IFN-γ+ ESAT-6(+), 70% FCM-CD4+IFN-γ+ PPD(+), 41% QFT-G-IT(+) and 57% TST(+). FCM-CD4+IFN-γ+ ESAT-6 was the only test that was strongly correlated to the exposure time to infection. In the immunosuppressed group, 49% were FCM-CD4+IFN-γ+ ESAT-6(+), 62% FCM-CD4+IFN-γ+ PPD(+), 4.6% QFT-G-IT(+), and 18% TST(+).
  
  
  
  FCM-CD4+IFN-γ+ assays are more sensitive than QFT-G-IT and TST for the diagnosis of LTBI in close contacts and in immunosuppressed patients under anti-TNF-a treatment. FCM-CD4+IFN-γ+ is not affected by the chronic use of biologic agents. © 2015 International Clinical Cytometry Society.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Locus Medicus S.A., 246 Mesogeion Ave, Athens, 15561, Greece.
authors.forename: Chrysovalantis V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Papageorgiou
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Sotiria Hospital of Chest Diseases, 152 Mesogeion Ave, Athens, 11527, Greece.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anastasopoulos
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cellular Biology and Immunology, Locus Medicus S.A., 246 Mesogeion Ave, Athens, 15561, Greece.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ploussi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cellular Biology and Immunology, Locus Medicus S.A., 246 Mesogeion Ave, Athens, 15561, Greece.
authors.forename: Michail
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leventopoulos
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Department, National Reference Laboratory for Mycobacteria, Sotiria Hospital of Chest Diseases, 152 Mesogeion Ave, Athens, 11527, Greece.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karabela
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Department, General Hospital of Athens 'G. Gennimatas', 154 Mesogeion Ave, Athens, 11527, Greece.
authors.forename: Kyriakos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fotiadis
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis, Sotiria Hospital of Chest Diseases, 152 Mesogeion Ave, Athens, 11527, Greece.
authors.forename: Apostolos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papavasileiou
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Department, National Reference Laboratory for Mycobacteria, Sotiria Hospital of Chest Diseases, 152 Mesogeion Ave, Athens, 11527, Greece.
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vogiatzakis
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Department, General Hospital of Athens 'G. Gennimatas', 154 Mesogeion Ave, Athens, 11527, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ioakeimidis
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cellular Biology and Immunology, Locus Medicus S.A., 246 Mesogeion Ave, Athens, 15561, Greece.|Department of Virology, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 171 Alexandras Ave, Athens, 11522, Greece.
authors.forename: Angelos D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Gritzapis
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Locus Medicus S.A., 246 Mesogeion Ave, Athens, 15561, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Poulakis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000166:cytology*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C573415:IFNG protein, human; D007371:Interferon-gamma
keywords: cellular immunology; immunosuppression; tuberculosis