1
|
Anterasian C, Warr AJ, Lacourse SM, Kinuthia J, Richardson BA, Nguyen FK, Matemo D, Maleche-Obimbo E, Stewart GCJ, Hawn TR. Non-IFNγ Whole Blood Cytokine Responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis Antigens in HIV-exposed Infants. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2021; 40:922-929. [PMID: 34525006 PMCID: PMC8443847 DOI: 10.1097/inf.0000000000003254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) infants have increased risk of tuberculosis (TB). Testing for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection is limited by reduced Quantiferon (QFT) sensitivity in infants and tuberculin skin test (TST) cross-reactivity with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine. Our objective is to assess if non-IFNγ cytokine responses to Mtb-specific antigens have improved sensitivity in detecting Mtb infection in HEU infants compared with QFT. METHODS HEU infants were enrolled in a randomized clinical trial of isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) to prevent Mtb infection in Kenya (N = 300) and assessed at 12 months postrandomization (14 months of age) by TST and QFT-Plus. Non-IFNγ cytokine secretion (IL2, TNF, IP10, N = 229) in QFT-Plus supernatants was measured using Luminex assay. Logistic regression was used to assess the effect of IPT on Mtb infection outcomes in HEU infants. RESULTS Three of 251 (1.2%) infants were QFT-Plus positive. Non-IFNγ Mtb antigen-specific responses were detected in 12 additional infants (12/229, 5.2%), all TST negative. IPT was not associated with Mtb infection defined as any Mtb antigen-specific cytokine response (odds ratio = 0.7, P = 0.54). Mtb antigen-specific IL2/IP10 responses had fair correlation (τ = 0.25). Otherwise, non-IFNγ cytokine responses had minimal correlation with QFT-Plus and no correlation with TST size. CONCLUSIONS We detected non-IFNg Mtb antigen-specific T-cell responses in 14-month HEU infants. Non-IFNg cytokines may be more sensitive than IFNg in detecting infant Mtb infection. IPT during the first year of life was not associated with Mtb infection measured by IFNg, IL2, IP10 and TNF Mtb-specific responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Alex J. Warr
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle 98109, USA
| | - Sylvia M. Lacourse
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle 98109, USA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle 98109, USA
| | - John Kinuthia
- Department of Research and Programs, Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Barbra A. Richardson
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle 98109, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle 98109, USA
| | - Felicia K. Nguyen
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle 98109, USA
| | - Daniel Matemo
- Department of Research and Programs, Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | | | - Thomas R. Hawn
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle 98109, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Villar-Hernández R, Latorre I, De Souza-Galvão ML, Jiménez MA, Ruiz-Manzano J, Pilarte J, García-García E, Muriel-Moreno B, Cantos A, Altet N, Millet JP, González-Díaz Y, Molina-Pinargote I, Prat C, Ruhwald M, Domínguez J. Use of IP-10 detection in dried plasma spots for latent tuberculosis infection diagnosis in contacts via mail. Sci Rep 2019; 9:3943. [PMID: 30850687 PMCID: PMC6408503 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-40778-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2018] [Accepted: 02/22/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to test the use of IP-10 detection in dried plasma from contact studies individuals (contacts of smear positive patients), by comparing it with IP-10 and IFN-γ detection in direct plasma, to establish IP-10 detection in DPS as a useful assay for LTBI diagnosis. Whole blood samples were collected from 80 subjects: 12 with active tuberculosis (TB), and 68 from contact studies. The amount of IFN-γ produced by sensitized T cells was determined in direct plasma by QuantiFERON Gold In-Tube test. IP-10 levels were determined in direct and dried plasma by an in-house ELISA. For dried plasma IP-10 determination, two 25 µl plasma drops were dried in Whatman903 filter paper and sent by mail to the laboratory. Regarding TB patients, 100.0%, 91.7% and 75.0% were positive for IFN-γ detection and IP-10 detection in direct and dried plasma, respectively. In contacts, 69.1%, 60.3% and 48.5% had positive results after IFN-γ and IP-10 in direct and dried plasma, respectively. The agreement among in vitro tests was substantial and IP-10 levels in direct and dried plasma were strongly correlated (r = 0.897). In conclusion, IP-10 detection in dried plasma is a simple and safe method that would help improve LTBI management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R Villar-Hernández
- Servei de Microbiología, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Institut d'Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol, Carretera del Canyet, 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.,CIBER Enfermedades Respiratorias, CIBERES, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Carretera del Canyet, 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Carretera del Canyet, 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - I Latorre
- Servei de Microbiología, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Institut d'Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol, Carretera del Canyet, 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.,CIBER Enfermedades Respiratorias, CIBERES, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Carretera del Canyet, 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Carretera del Canyet, 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M L De Souza-Galvão
- Unitat de Tuberculosi de Drassanes, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron. Av. de les Drassanes, 17, 08001 Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M A Jiménez
- Unitat de Tuberculosi de Drassanes, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron. Av. de les Drassanes, 17, 08001 Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - J Ruiz-Manzano
- CIBER Enfermedades Respiratorias, CIBERES, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Carretera del Canyet, 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Carretera del Canyet, 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.,Servei de Pneumologia, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Carretera del Canyet, 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - J Pilarte
- Unitat de Tuberculosi de Drassanes, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron. Av. de les Drassanes, 17, 08001 Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - E García-García
- Servei de Microbiología, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Institut d'Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol, Carretera del Canyet, 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.,CIBER Enfermedades Respiratorias, CIBERES, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Carretera del Canyet, 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Carretera del Canyet, 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - B Muriel-Moreno
- Servei de Microbiología, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Institut d'Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol, Carretera del Canyet, 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.,CIBER Enfermedades Respiratorias, CIBERES, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Carretera del Canyet, 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Carretera del Canyet, 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - A Cantos
- Unitat de Tuberculosi de Drassanes, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron. Av. de les Drassanes, 17, 08001 Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - N Altet
- Unitat de Tuberculosi de Drassanes, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron. Av. de les Drassanes, 17, 08001 Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Unidad Clínica de Tratamiento Directamente Observado "Serveis Clinics", Carrer de García Mariño, 4, 08022, Barcelona, Spain.,CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, CIBEREESP, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Carretera del Canyet, 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - J P Millet
- Unidad Clínica de Tratamiento Directamente Observado "Serveis Clinics", Carrer de García Mariño, 4, 08022, Barcelona, Spain.,CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, CIBEREESP, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Carretera del Canyet, 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Y González-Díaz
- Unidad Clínica de Tratamiento Directamente Observado "Serveis Clinics", Carrer de García Mariño, 4, 08022, Barcelona, Spain
| | - I Molina-Pinargote
- Unidad Clínica de Tratamiento Directamente Observado "Serveis Clinics", Carrer de García Mariño, 4, 08022, Barcelona, Spain
| | - C Prat
- Servei de Microbiología, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Institut d'Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol, Carretera del Canyet, 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.,CIBER Enfermedades Respiratorias, CIBERES, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Carretera del Canyet, 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Carretera del Canyet, 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M Ruhwald
- Department of Infectious Disease Immunology Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark - Artillerivej 5, 2300, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - J Domínguez
- Servei de Microbiología, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Institut d'Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol, Carretera del Canyet, 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain. .,CIBER Enfermedades Respiratorias, CIBERES, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Carretera del Canyet, 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain. .,Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Carretera del Canyet, 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Meier NR, Volken T, Geiger M, Heininger U, Tebruegge M, Ritz N. Risk Factors for Indeterminate Interferon-Gamma Release Assay for the Diagnosis of Tuberculosis in Children-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Pediatr 2019; 7:208. [PMID: 31192175 PMCID: PMC6548884 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2019.00208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Interferon-gamma release assays (IGRA) are well-established immunodiagnostic tests for tuberculosis (TB) in adults. In children these tests are associated with higher rates of false-negative and indeterminate results. Age is presumed to be one factor influencing cytokine release and therefore test performance. The aim of this study was to systematically review factors associated with indeterminate IGRA results in pediatric patients. Methods: Systematic literature review guided by the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) searching PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science. Studies reporting results of at least one commercially available IGRA (QuantiFERON-TB, T-SPOT.TB) in pediatric patient groups were included. Random effects meta-analysis was used to assess proportions of indeterminate IGRA results. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 value. Risk differences were calculated for studies comparing QuantiFERON-TB and T-SPOT.TB in the same study. Meta-regression was used to further explore the influence of study level variables on heterogeneity. Results: Of 1,293 articles screened, 133 studies were included in the final analysis. These assessed QuantiFERON-TB only in 77.4% (103/133), QuantiFERON-TB and T-SPOT.TB in 15.8% (21/133), and T-SPOT.TB only in 6.8% (9/133) resulting in 155 datasets including 107,418 participants. Overall 4% of IGRA results were indeterminate, and T-SPOT.TB (0.03, 95% CI 0.02-0.05) and QuantiFERON-TB assays (0.05, 95% CI 0.04-0.06) showed similar proportions of indeterminate results; pooled risk difference was-0.01 (95% CI -0.03 to 0.00). Significant differences with lower proportions of indeterminate assays with T-SPOT.TB compared to QuantiFERON-TB were only seen in subgroup analyses of studies performed in Africa and in non-HIV-infected immunocompromised patients. Meta-regression confirmed lower proportions of indeterminate results for T-SPOT.TB compared to QuantiFERON-TB only among studies that reported results from non-HIV-infected immunocompromised patients (p < 0.001). Conclusion: On average indeterminate IGRA results occur in 1 in 25 tests performed. Overall, there was no difference in the proportion of indeterminate results between both commercial assays. However, our findings suggest that in patients in Africa and/or patients with immunocompromising conditions other than HIV infection the T-SPOT.TB assay appears to produce fewer indeterminate results.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Noëmi R Meier
- Mycobacterial Research Laboratory, University of Basel Children's Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Volken
- School of Health Professions, Zürich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur, Switzerland
| | - Marc Geiger
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ulrich Heininger
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology Unit, University of Basel Children's Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marc Tebruegge
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Evelina London Children's Hospital, Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.,Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Nicole Ritz
- Mycobacterial Research Laboratory, University of Basel Children's Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology Unit, University of Basel Children's Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.,Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Drabe CH, Blauenfeldt T, Ruhwald M. ELISA-based assay for IP-10 detection from filter paper samples. Methods Mol Biol 2015; 1172:27-37. [PMID: 24908292 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-0928-5_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
IP-10 is a small pro-inflammatory chemokine secreted primarily from monocytes and fibroblasts. Alterations in IP-10 levels have been associated with inflammatory conditions including viral and bacterial infections, immune dysfunction, and tumor development. IP-10 is increasingly recognized as a biomarker that predicts severity of various diseases and can be used in the immunodiagnostics of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and cytomegalovirus infection. Here, we describe an ELISA-based method to detect IP-10 from dried blood and plasma spot samples.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Heldbjerg Drabe
- Department of Pulmonary and Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital of North Zealand, Hillerød, Denmark,
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Development of a one-step probe based molecular assay for rapid immunodiagnosis of infection with M. tuberculosis using dried blood spots. PLoS One 2014; 9:e105628. [PMID: 25184553 PMCID: PMC4153573 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0105628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2014] [Accepted: 07/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Antigen specific release of IP-10 is the most promising alternative marker to IFN-γ for infection with M. tuberculosis. Compared to Interferon-γ release assays (IGRA), IP-10 is released in high levels enabling novel approaches such as field friendly dried blood spots (DBS) and molecular detection. Aim To develop a robust IP-10 based molecular assay for the diagnosis of infection with M. tubercuolsis from whole blood and DBS. Method We developed a one-step probe based multiplex RT-qPCR assay for detecting IP-10 and IFN-γ mRNA expression from whole blood and DBS samples. The assay was validated and applied for the diagnosis of M. tuberculosis infection in DBS samples from 43 patients with confirmed TB, 13 patients with latent TB and 96 presumed uninfected controls. In parallel, IP-10 and INF-γ levels were measured in Quantiferon (QFT-TB) plasma supernatants. Results IP-10 mRNA upregulation was detectable at 4 hours after stimulation (6 fold upregulation) peaking at 8 hours (108 fold upregulation). IFN-γ expression occurred in concert but levels were lower (peak 6.7 fold upregulation). IP-10 gene expression level was significantly higher in patients with tuberculosis (median 31.2, IQR 10.7–67.0) and persons with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) (41.2, IQR 9.8–64.9) compared to healthy controls (1.6, IQR 1.1–2.4; p<0.0001). The IP-10 mRNA and protein based tests had comparable diagnostic accuracy to QFT-TB, sensitivity (85% and 88% vs 85%) and specificity (96% and 96% vs 97%, p = ns.). Conclusion We developed a rapid, robust and accurate molecular immunodiagnostic test for M. tuberculosis infection. By combining DBS based sample acquisition, mail or currier based sample transport with centralized molecular detection, this immunodiagnostic test concept can reduce the local technological requirements everywhere and make it possible to offer highly accurate immunodiagnostic tests in low resource settings.
Collapse
|
6
|
Latorre I, Díaz J, Mialdea I, Serra-Vidal M, Altet N, Prat C, Díez N, Escribano A, Casas I, Rodrigo C, Ausina V, Ruhwald M, Domínguez J. IP-10 is an accurate biomarker for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in children. J Infect 2014; 69:590-9. [PMID: 24975172 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2014.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2014] [Revised: 05/14/2014] [Accepted: 06/03/2014] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Performance of IFN-γ assays in children is compromised. Therefore, we investigated the utility of IP-10 for the detection of active tuberculosis (TB) and latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) diagnosis in children; comparing its positivity with QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFN-G-IT) and T-SPOT.TB. METHODS We studied 230 children from three groups: active TB, screening (healthy children without known exposure to active TB patient screened at school or by their paediatrician) and contact-tracing studies. IFN-γ release was determined by QFN-G-IT and T-SPOT.TB. IP-10 was detected in QFN-G-IT supernatants by ELISA. RESULTS When combining QFN-G-IT and IP-10 assays, positive results improved significantly from 38.3% in QFN-G-IT and 33.9% in IP-10 to 41.3%. Age and type of contact were significant risk factors associated with positive QFN-G-IT and IP-10 results. IP-10 levels after antigen-specific stimulation were significantly higher in comparison to IFN-γ levels. Correlation between the three assays was good (κ = 0.717-0.783). CONCLUSIONS IP-10 cytokine is expressed in response to TB specific-antigens used in QFN-G-IT. In conclusion, the use of IFN-γ T-cell based assays in combination with an additional IP-10 assay detection could be useful for diagnosing active TB and LTBI in children.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- I Latorre
- Servei de Microbiologia, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Institut d'Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain; Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain; CIBER Enfermedades Respiratorias, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Badalona, Spain
| | - J Díaz
- Servei de Microbiologia, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Institut d'Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain; Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain; CIBER Enfermedades Respiratorias, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Badalona, Spain
| | - I Mialdea
- Unidad de Neumología Infantil, Hospital Clínico Universitario Valencia, Universidad de Valencia, Spain
| | - M Serra-Vidal
- Servei de Microbiologia, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Institut d'Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain; Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain; CIBER Enfermedades Respiratorias, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Badalona, Spain
| | - N Altet
- Unidad de Prevención y Control de la Tuberculosis de Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - C Prat
- Servei de Microbiologia, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Institut d'Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain; Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain; CIBER Enfermedades Respiratorias, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Badalona, Spain
| | - N Díez
- Unidad de Neumología Infantil, Hospital Clínico Universitario Valencia, Universidad de Valencia, Spain
| | - A Escribano
- Unidad de Neumología Infantil, Hospital Clínico Universitario Valencia, Universidad de Valencia, Spain
| | - I Casas
- Servei de Medicina Preventiva, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Institut d'Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain; Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - C Rodrigo
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain; Servei de Pediatria, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias I Pujol, Institut d'Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain
| | - V Ausina
- Servei de Microbiologia, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Institut d'Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain; Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain; CIBER Enfermedades Respiratorias, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Badalona, Spain
| | - M Ruhwald
- Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - J Domínguez
- Servei de Microbiologia, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Institut d'Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain; Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain; CIBER Enfermedades Respiratorias, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Badalona, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Bobosha K, Tjon Kon Fat EM, van den Eeden SJF, Bekele Y, van der Ploeg-van Schip JJ, de Dood CJ, Dijkman K, Franken KLMC, Wilson L, Aseffa A, Spencer JS, Ottenhoff THM, Corstjens PLAM, Geluk A. Field-evaluation of a new lateral flow assay for detection of cellular and humoral immunity against Mycobacterium leprae. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e2845. [PMID: 24810599 PMCID: PMC4014418 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2014] [Accepted: 03/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Field-applicable tests detecting asymptomatic Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae) infection or predicting progression to leprosy, are urgently required. Since the outcome of M. leprae infection is determined by cellular- and humoral immunity, we aim to develop diagnostic tests detecting pro-/anti-inflammatory and regulatory cytokines as well as antibodies against M. leprae. Previously, we developed lateral flow assays (LFA) for detection of cytokines and anti-PGL-I antibodies. Here we evaluate progress of newly developed LFAs for applications in resource-poor settings. Methods The combined diagnostic value of IP-10, IL-10 and anti-PGL-I antibodies was tested using M. leprae-stimulated blood of leprosy patients and endemic controls (EC). For reduction of the overall test-to-result time the minimal whole blood assay time required to detect distinctive responses was investigated. To accommodate LFAs for field settings, dry-format LFAs for IP-10 and anti-PGL-I antibodies were developed allowing storage and shipment at ambient temperatures. Additionally, a multiplex LFA-format was applied for simultaneous detection of anti-PGL-I antibodies and IP-10. For improved sensitivity and quantitation upconverting phosphor (UCP) reporter technology was applied in all LFAs. Results Single and multiplex UCP-LFAs correlated well with ELISAs. The performance of dry reagent assays and portable, lightweight UCP-LF strip readers indicated excellent field-robustness. Notably, detection of IP-10 levels in stimulated samples allowed a reduction of the whole blood assay time from 24 h to 6 h. Moreover, IP-10/IL-10 ratios in unstimulated plasma differed significantly between patients and EC, indicating the feasibility to identify M. leprae infection in endemic areas. Conclusions Dry-format UCP-LFAs are low-tech, robust assays allowing detection of relevant cytokines and antibodies in response to M. leprae in the field. The high levels of IP-10 and the required shorter whole blood assay time, render this cytokine useful to discriminate between leprosy patients and EC. Leprosy is one of the six diseases considered by WHO as a major threat in developing countries and often results in severe, life-long disabilities and deformities due to delayed diagnosis. Early detection of Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae) infection, followed by effective interventions, is considered vital to interrupt transmission. Thus, field-friendly tests that detect asymptomatic M. leprae infection are urgently required. The clinical outcome after M. leprae infection is determined by the balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and antibodies in response to M. leprae. In this study, we developed lateral flow assays (LFA) for detection of pro-inflammatory (IP-10) vs. anti-inflammatory/regulatory (IL-10) cellular immunity as well as antibodies against M. leprae and evaluated these in a field setting in Ethiopia using lightweight, portable readers. We show that detection of IP-10 allowed a significant reduction of the overall test-to-result time from 24 h to 6 h. Moreover, IP-10/IL-10 ratios in unstimulated plasma differed significantly between patients and EC, which can provide means to identify M. leprae infection. Thus, the LFAs are low-tech, robust assays that can be applied in resource-poor settings measuring immunity to M. leprae and can be used as tools for early diagnosis of leprosy leading to timely treatment and reduced transmission.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kidist Bobosha
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Elisa M. Tjon Kon Fat
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Yonas Bekele
- Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | | | - Claudia J. de Dood
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Karin Dijkman
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Kees L. M. C. Franken
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Louis Wilson
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Abraham Aseffa
- Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - John S. Spencer
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Tom H. M. Ottenhoff
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Paul L. A. M. Corstjens
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Annemieke Geluk
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|