The Research Of The Gamma Interferon (IFN-γ) Release Assays In Diagnosis Of Patients With Tuberculosis

Objective:To explore the invitro interferon-gamma(IFN-r) release assay based on three different Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens in the diagnosis of tuberculosis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections.Methods:The peripheral blood cells were collected from the patients with lung tuberculosis(tuberculosis group n=30),health controls(health control group n=53).The blood cells were co-cultured for 1 day with different antigens purified protein derivatives(PPD) of tuberculin,early secretary antigenic target 6000 protein(ESAT-6)and Culture filtrate protein-10(CFP-10).The protein levels of IFN-r were detected by ELISA.and the results were compared to those with the tuberculin skin test(TEST).Results:For healthy controls,the TST was positively related to the history of BCG vavvination and the closeness of contact with sputum-positive tuberculosis patients (P=0.003 P=0.006)The ESAT-6 based IFN-r release assay was only significantly related to the closeness of contact with sputum-positive tuberculosis patients(P＜0.001),but not to the history of BCGvaccination(p=0.759).The cfp-10 based IFN-r release assay was only significantly related to the closeness of contact with sputum-positive tuberculosis patients(P＜0.001),but not to the history of BCGvaccination(p=0.632).The invitro IFN-r release level is highest in TB patients and is lowest in health control group.Conelusions:IFN-r release assay based on ESAT-6and CFP-10 appears to be better than TEST in the diagnosis of infection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.