Diagnostic accuracy of a selected signature gene set that discriminates active pulmonary tuberculosis and other pulmonary diseases

Summary

Objective

We validated the accuracy of host selected signature gene set using unstimulated whole blood (WB), and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB).

Methods

The unstimulated WB and PBMC from 1417 individuals with active pulmonary TB patients, other lung diseases and healthy participants were analyzed using real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Results

The WB cohort test demonstrates that the combination of GBP5 and KLF2 can differentiate active TB versus HC with sensitivity and specificity of 77.8% and 87.1%, respectively; but most importantly active TB versus OD with sensitivity and specificity of 96.1% and 85.2%, respectively. Again during treatment course, the TB score of GBP5 and KLF2, analytes secretion and clinical parameters were found to be associated in disease progression. In the PBMC cohort test, we found that the only and best discriminatory combination was GBP5, DUSP3 and KLF2 inthe active TB versus HC with a sensitivity and specificity of 76.4% and 85.9%, respectively.

Conclusions

Our study reveals that GBP5 and KLF2 may be useful as a diagnostic tool for active TB, also the two-gene set may serve as surrogate biomarkers for monitoring TB therapy.