Serum levels of chemokines IP-10, IL-8 and SDF-1 serve as good biomarkers for diabetes-tuberculosis nexus.

BACKGROUND: Inflammation has long been identified as an essential component of both Type-2 diabetes and tuberculosis. Chemokines are low molecular weight proteins which play an important role in both inflammation (diabetes) and immunity (tuberculosis).

METHODS: In this study, we measured the serum levels of IP-10, IL-8 and SDF-1 in subjects with Normal Glucose Tolerance (NGT-TB-  = 108; NGT-TB+  = 200), Pre-Diabetes (PDM-TB-  = 118; PDM-TB+  = 105), Newly Diagnosed Diabetes (NDM-TB-  = 105; NDM-TB+  = 63) and Known Diabetes (KDM-TB-  = 131; KDM-TB+  = 108), by ELISA. Along with chemokines pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-ɑ and IL-6 were also measured in these groups.

RESULTS: While IP-10 levels were significantly reduced in TB+ subjects in all the sub-groups, IL-8 levels were significantly reduced in NDM-TB+ and increased in KDM-TB+ subjects. SDF-1 levels were significantly elevated in TB+ subjects in all the subgroups, except for KDM-TB+ .

CONCLUSION: Altered serum chemokine levels can alter anti-TB immunity in diabetes patients and can fuel DM-TB nexus.