Key result
Tuberculous pleural effusions demonstrated significantly higher levels of regulatory T cells, IL-16, and IFN-γ compared to malignant effusions, serving as potential markers for differential diagnosis.
Why the study?
Can T-regulatory cells, IFN-γ, and IL-16 levels differentiate between tuberculous and malignant pleural effusions?
Observational (n=80)
Can T-regulatory cells, IFN-γ, and IL-16 levels differentiate between tuberculous and malignant pleural effusions?
Regulatory T cells, IFN-γ, and IL-16 may serve as useful biomarkers for differentiating between tuberculous and malignant pleural effusions.
Treg phenotyping and cytokine profiling may aid pleural effusion differential diagnosis; leaves open clinical utility pending validation studies.
The differential diagnosis between malignant and tuberculous exudative pleural effusions is an important clinical problem. The aim of current study is to evaluate the frequencies of T-regulatory cells (Treg) on the basis of distinct phenotypes in the differential diagnosis between malignant and tuberculous pleural effusion. In addition, to evaluate Interferon-gamma (IFN- γ) and interleukin-16 (IL-16) levels and their correlation to Treg cells in malignant and tuberculous pleural effusions. Sixty patients with pleural effusion (26 tuberculous and 34 malignant) and 20 healthy controls were included in the study. Pleural fluid and peripheral blood were assessed for frequencies of T regs, IL-16, and IFN-γ. Pleural effusions from both tuberculous and malignant groups represented significantly higher levels (more in TB) for the following cell populations than peripheral blood: total lymphocytes, CD3+lymphocyte, CD4+CD25+lymphocyte and Treg (CD4+ CD25+FoxP3+). Levels of IL-16 and IFN-γ in tuberculous group were significantly higher than that in malignant group. Regulatory T cells, INF-γ and IL-16 are new important tools for differentiation between tuberculous and malignant pleural effusion.
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Ibrahim et al. (2012) conducted an observational in Malignant and tuberculous pleural effusions (n=80). Tuberculous pleural effusion vs. Malignant pleural effusion and healthy controls was evaluated on Frequencies of T-regulatory cells, IFN-γ, and IL-16 levels. Tuberculous pleural effusions demonstrated significantly higher levels of regulatory T cells, IL-16, and IFN-γ compared to malignant effusions, serving as potential markers for differential diagnosis.
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