Inflammatory Cytokines Response among Positive Tuberculin Skin Test Children with Household Contacts Tuberculosis in an Endemic TB Setting

Abstract

Cell-mediated immunity, which involves interactions between T cells, macrophages, Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and Interleukin-17 (IL-17) are essential to the host against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection. Understanding the correlation between cytokine response and tuberculin skin test (TST) in latent tuberculosis (TB) infection children with household contact exposure may provide insights into immune mechanisms and diagnosis tuberculosis. This study was conducted at Dr.Soetomo Hospital, Indonesia. Children diagnosed with history of closed contact TB were performed TST. Serum levels of IFN-γ, IL-10, and IL-17 were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Data were analyzed using Mann- Whitney U test, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Tuberculin skin test was positive in 20 (66.67%) children. Mean level serum of IFN-γ, IL-17, and IL10were38.04 pg/mL, 4.96 pg/mL and 6.86 pg/mL.There were significant elevated of IFN-γ and IL-10 in children with positive TST group.Children with TB infection have a complex immunological response, as evidenced by their positive TST and elevated IFN-γ and IL-10 levels. Cytokine profiling could be helpful in differentiating between latent or early exposure and active disease in pediatric populations.