Differences in PPD- and mitogen-induced T-cell activation marker expression characterize immunopathology in acute tuberculosis patients

• DOI: 10.1007/s10096-023-04741-3
• Publication Date: 2024-01-03T01:02:11Z
• Authors: Isaac Acheampong; Difery Minadzi; Edwin F. Laing; Michael Frimpong; Monika M. Vivekan...; Augustine Yeboah; Ernest Adankwah; Wilfred Aniagyei; Joseph F. Arthur; Millicent Lamptey; Mohammed K. Abass; Francis Kumbel; Francis Osei-Yeboah; Amidu Gawusu; Linda Batsa Debrah; Dorcas O. Owusu; Alexander Debrah; Ertan Mayatepek; Julia Seyfarth; Richard O. Phillips; Marc Jacobsen
• Keywords: Medical microbiology

Abstract Impaired T-cell responses to mitogens and high activation marker (TAM) expression on Mycobacterium tuberculosis –specific T-cells characterize immunopathology in patients with (TB). In a study of TB ( n = 60) asymptomatic contacts (controls, 37), we found that had higher CD38 + proportions specific for M. protein (PPD Mtb ), yet total PPD -specific were comparable. Notably, both activated (CD38 ) IFN-γ from lower mitogen (phytohemagglutinin, PHA)-induced responses. This impaired response improved the classification efficacy TAM-TB assay, especially employing PPD/PHA-induced ratio.