Clinical data regarding the prediction of active tuberculosis (TB) development in close TB contacts are scarce. To address this problem, we performed a 2-year follow-up study of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) antigen-driven IFN-gamma responses and serum levels of soluble macrophage CD14 receptor in individuals with recent or prolonged M.tb exposure. Between June 2011 and June 2013, we studied 60 healthy Polish adults with recent household or long-term work TB contact and individuals without known M.tb exposure. All of them underwent baseline and repeated testing with IGRA (IFN-gamma release assay) and serum sCD14 ELISA quantification. Frequencies of IGRA results differed at the baseline and follow-up testing. IGRA reversions were noticed in almost one-third of Work TB Contacts and no participants from the Household TB Contact group. IGRA conversions were found in 40 % of Household TB Contacts. No correlation between the IGRA result and the sCD14 level was observed. IFN-γ variability has important implications for clinical practice and requires caution in interpreting the results to distinguish new infections from nonspecific inter-individual variations in cytokine responses. The impairment of IFN-γ response in some individuals with prolonged M.tb exposure representing a resistant immune status does not allow considering IGRA results as reliable and credible. Monitoring the serum sCD14 level can reduce the likelihood of a false prediction of active TB development in close TB contacts showing an M.tb-specific increase in the IFN-gamma production in repeated IGRA testing.
Keywords: Interferon-gamma response; Macrophage sCD14 receptor; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; TB contacts.