ABSTRACT
Objective To assess the validity of a newly developed in-house ELISPOT IFN-γ release assay (IGRA) for the detection of latent tuberculosis infection among HIV infected individuals. Methods In-house ELISPOT assay were performed, together with a tuberculin skin test in 205 health controls and 110 HIV infected individuals , who had no signs of active tuberculosis at time of enrolment . Results Using the ELISPOT assay, positivity rates for the 205 health controls, 110 HIV infected individuals and 47 AIDS patients on highly active antiretrovial therapy (HAART) were 7. 3% , 24.5% , 29. 8% , respectively. These results indicated that the positive rates obtained from HIV infected individuals (include patient on HAART) was significantly higher than health controls( P ＜ 0.001). We found no significant correlation between the CD4 cell count and positivity of ELISPOT assay (P ＞0.05 ). The proportion of subjects with a positive response to ELISPOT assay were higher than the proportion of tuberculin skin test(TST) responders(P＜0.0001) in HIV infected individuals. Conclusion Our study indicates that IGRA using M. tuberculosis specific antigens are likely to retain their validity for the diagnosis of LTBI among HIV positive individuals.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the alteration of cell proliferation and heparin-binding epidermal-growth-factor-like growth factor(HB-EGF)mRNA expression in cultured normal human keratinocytes after acitretin treatment.Methods After a 12-hour incubation with 0.1 and 1 ?mol/L acitretin in normal human keratinocytes,the proliferation potency of the cells was detected by MTT colorimetric assay and the expression of HB-EGF mRNA was examined by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results Both keratinocytes growth inhibition and HB-EGF mRNA expression was dose-dependently induced by acitretin.Treatment with 0.1 and 1 ?mol/L acitretin inhibited keratinocyte proliferation by 10.2% and 14.4%,and elevated HB-EGF mRNA by 3.2-and 7.1-fold,respectively.Conclusion Upregulated HB-EGF mRNA expression induced by acitretin in normal human keratinocytes may be involved in regulating keratinocyte growth inhibition after acitretin treatment.