Accurate Diagnosis of Pediatric Active Tuberculosis and Disease Prediction by Monitoring CD27 Expression on Polyfunctionnal Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB)- specific CD4 T cells in Cameroon.

Abstract

Control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection is often mediated by cellular immune responses. In respect to this, MTB specific CD4 T cells play a central role and their maturation in response to bacterial invasion is characterized by changes in their expression patterns for some surface molecules like CD27. Monitoring the expression pattern of this molecule in children with active tuberculosis (TB) and in those living closely with active TB adults, could be critical for accurately staging pediatric TB. Here we show that assessing CD27 expression among TB active versus TB exposed children screened with QuantiFeronTB GoldTM test, may generate some key knowledge for disease prediction and prevention. Therefore, such approach could be useful both for confirming clinical disease and for monitoring disease progression in children living in high burden setting of MTB and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

Keywords : Diagnosis; Tuberculosis; CD27; Biomarkers; Children; Cameroon.