IFN-γ concentrations in TB patients according to the results of QFT-G assay at the end of treatment.

<p><b>Group A:</b> TB patients who had a QFT-G reversion (positive to negative) at the end of therapy.</p><p><b>Group B:</b> TB patients who remained QFT-G positive at the end of therapy.</p

Evaluation of individual IFN-γ production by prolonged-based incubation assay.

<p>Response to sum of intact recombinant ESAT-6 and CFP-10 proteins after 6 days of stimulation was evaluated in 8 TB patients with QFT-G reversion (positive to negative) during treatment (A), 10 TB patients with persistent QFT-G positive results at the end of therapy (B), and 5 healthy donors (C). The largest increase in IFN-γ production was seen only in TB patients with persistent positive QFT-G results. Statistical significance was analyzed by the Mann–Whitney U-test.</p

Cytofluorimetric analysis of phenotypic profile of T cells from two representative TB patients at the end of treatment.

<p>A representative sample of one TB patient with QFT-G reversion (positive to negative) at the end of therapy (panel A) and one TB patient with persistent QFT-G positive result (panel B) is shown. The percentage of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells that expressed CD45RO and lymphotropic chemokine receptor CCR7 was assessed in diluted whole blood after 6 days of in vitro stimulation with intact recombinant ESAT-6 and CFP-10 proteins. Effector memory (EM) cells (CD45RO+/CCR7−) are shown in the upper left quadrants of both panels; central/memory (CM) cells (CD45RO+/CCR7+) are showed in the upper right quadrants of both panels.</p

IFN-γ responses to mycobacterial antigens, PPD and PHA assessed by short or prolonged incubation-based assays.

<p><b>Abbreviations:</b></p><p>PPD: purified protein derivative; PHA: phytohemagglutinin; rESAT-6: recombinant ESAT-6; rCFP-10: recombinant CFP-10.</p><p><b>Group A:</b> TB patients who had a QFT-G reversion (positive to negative) at the end of therapy.</p><p><b>Group B:</b> TB patients who remained QFT-G positive at the end of therapy.</p

Characteristics of 5 TB subjects with persistent positive IGRA results and less good outcome.

<p><b>Abbreviations:</b></p><p>ND: not done; INH : Isoniazid; RIF: rifampicin.</p

Effect of antituberculous drugs on IFN-γ release in vitro.

<p>The IFN-γ production was evaluated after overnight incubation with the combination of four drugs (rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, ethambutol) at three different concentrations of solution. C1: INH 5 µg/ml, RIF 7 µg/ml, ETB 5 µg/ml, PZA 40 µg/ml; C2: INH 10 µg/ml, RIF 14 µg/ml, ETB 10 µg/ml, PZA 80 µg/ml; C3: INH 15 µg/ml, RIF 21 µg/ml, ETB 15 µg/ml, PZA 120 µg/ml. Controls wells contained only PHA at 5 µg/ml. The concentrations of IFN-γ produced in the presence of drug concentrations compatible with those achieved in the serum of treated patients (C1) were not significantly different from controls containing only PHA (p = 0,071). In contrast, a significant inhibitory effect was found at more elevated drug concentrations (C2 and C3) (p<0.001 for both). Student's t test was used for statistical analysis.</p

Longitudinal changes of specific IFN-γ response in 38 TB patients following anti-tuberculous treatment.

<p>IFN-γ response to sum of ESAT-6 and CFP-10 (overlapping peptides) was measured by QFT-G before, during and at the end of treatment. A significant decrease of IFN-γ response to mycobacterial antigens was found during the therapy (p<0.001, Wilcoxon's signed-rank test). [p: for the comparison of the results at baseline vs. completion of therapy]. Horizontal black line indicates the QFT-G assay cut-off value for a positive result (0.35 UI/mL).</p

Baseline characteristics of the subjects included in the study.

<p><b>Abbreviations:</b></p><p>BCG: Bacillus Calmette and Guerin; TB: tuberculosis.</p

Percentage of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells with effector/memory and central/memory phenotype in 18 TB patients at treatment completion.

<p><b>Abbreviations:</b></p><p><b>T_EM:</b> T cells with an effector/memory phenotype, defined as CD45RO+/CCR7−.</p><p><b>T_CM:</b> T cells with central/memory phenotype, defined as CD45RO+/CCR7+.</p><p><b>Group A:</b> TB patients who had a QFT-G reversion (positive to negative) at the end of therapy.</p><p><b>Group B:</b> TB patients who remained QFT-G positive at the end of therapy.</p

Persistent high plasma levels of sCD163 and sCD14 in adult patients with measles virus infection

<div><p>Background and aims</p><p>Measles is an infectious disease that represents a serious public health problem worldwide, being associated with increased susceptibility to secondary infections, especially in the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. The aim of this study was to evaluate sCD163 and sCD14 levels in measles virus (MV) infected patients, as markers of immune activation, in order to better understand their role in the pathogenesis of the disease. TNF-α plasma levels were also evaluated.</p><p>Methods</p><p>sCD163, sCD14 and TNF-α were measured by ELISA in plasma samples of 27 MV infected patients and 27 healthy donors (HD) included as controls.</p><p>Results</p><p>At the time of hospital admission, sCD163 and sCD14 levels were significantly higher in MV infected patients than in HD, while a decrease in TNF-α levels were found even if without statistical significance. sCD163 and sCD14 levels were significantly decreased after two months from acute infection compared to hospital admission although they remained significantly higher compared to HD. TNF-α levels increased significantly during the follow-up period. Considering clinical parameters, sCD163 levels positively correlated with aspartate aminotransferase, white blood cell count and neutrophils rate, while negatively correlated with the lymphocyte percentage. sCD14 levels positively correlated with the neutrophil and lymphocyte percentages.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>These results indicate that, despite the resolution of symptoms, an important macrophage/monocyte activation persists in measles patients, even after two months from infection.</p></div