Interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) production is a critical step of antituberculosis (anti-TB) immune response. The purpose of this study was to determine the influences of biologics, including the interleukin (IL)-6 receptor-inhibitor tocilizumab (TCZ), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists infliximab (INF) and etanercept (ETA), on Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) antigen-induced IFN-gamma production. MTB antigen (ESAT-6 and CFP-10)-induced IFN-gamma-releasing assay was performed with or without addition of biologics (TCZ, ETA, and INF) using whole blood from patients with active TB. ETA and INF inhibited IFN-gamma production in a dose-dependent manner. In whole blood from TB patients, ESAT-6 stimulated significant production of IFN-gamma (1.30 +/- 1.95 IU/ml), and TCZ did not inhibit IFN-gamma production (1.56 +/- 1.88 IU/ml). IFN-gamma production by ESAT-6 was inhibited by ETA and INF (0.98 +/- 1.74, 0.75 +/- 1.66 IU/ml, respectively). CFP-10 stimulated significant production of IFN-gamma (1.46 +/- 1.60 IU/ml), and TCZ did not inhibit IFN-gamma production (1.51 +/- 1.77 IU/ml). IFN-gamma production by CFP-10 was inhibited by ETA and INF (0.91 +/- 0.99, 0.72 +/- 0.88 IU/ml, respectively). TCD did not inhibit MTB antigen-induced IFN-gamma production. As IFN-gamma production is important in antimycobacterial host defenses, the minimal influence of TCZ on IFN-gamma-releasing assay suggests a low risk of latent TB infection reactivation during tocilizumab therapy.