IL-5 and IP-10 Detected in Quantiferon Supernatants Distinguish Latent Tuberculosis from Healthy Individuals in Areas with High Burden in Lima, Peru

De la Peña Galindo N.; Valdez S.C.; Neira C.S.; Calderon H.B.; Sanchez G.S.; Pelaez F.P.; Galarza Perez M. · Pathogens (2025) · DOI: 10.3390/pathogens14121225

Resumen

Background. Peru ranks among the countries with the highest burden of tuberculosis in Latin America. Interferon Gamma Release Assays (IGRAs), such as QuantiFERON-TB (QFT), cannot distinguish latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) from active tuberculosis (ATB), but they provide a more specific and quantitative assessment of prior exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Methods. We enrolled 56 participants and measured 38 cytokines/chemokines from plasma obtained through QFT in patients with active TB (n = 11), LTBI (n = 17), and QFT-negative healthy controls (n = 28) using a Multiplex Bead Assay. Results. Levels of IL-1RA, IL-2, IL-5, IFN-γ, and IP-10 significantly differentiated both ATB and LTBI groups from healthy controls (p < 0.035). Furthermore, IL-5 and IP-10 specifically distinguished LTBI from healthy controls (p < 0.015), while GM-CSF differentiated ATB from controls (p < 0.05). Conclusions. Beyond IFN-γ as a differential proinflammatory cytokine in TB, cytokines such as IL-5, and IP-10 show potential as biomarkers to discriminate infection status in high-burden TB settings.