Exosomal microRNAs associated with tuberculosis among people living with human immunodeficiency virus

Objective

To investigate the diagnostic value of selected exosomal miRNAs for Tuberculosis (TB) among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV).

Methods

A total of 43 adult HIV patients, including 20 diagnosed with TB and 23 controls, were enrolled. The levels of six exosomal miRNAs (miR-20a, miR-20b, miR-26a, miR-106a, miR-191, and miR-486) were measured using qRT-PCR.

Results

The levels of these six exosomal miRNAs (miR-20a, miR-20b, miR-26a, miR-106a, miR-191, and miR-486) were significantly higher in the plasma of TB patients compared to controls among PLHIV. The Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve of these six miRNAs showed a fair performance in distinguishing TB patients from controls, with Area Under Curve (AUC) values of 0.78 (95 %CI 0.63–0.93), 0.81 (95 %CI 0.67–0.95), 0.77 (95 %CI 0.61–0.93), 0.84 (95 %CI 0.70–0.98), 0.82 (95 %CI 0.68–0.95) and 0.79 (95 %CI 0.65–0.93), respectively. These miRNAs showed higher AUC values for extrapulmonary tuberculosis compared to pulmonary tuberculosis. An analysis of subgroups was performed based on CD4 + T cell count (＜200 and ≥ 200 cells·µL⁻¹). In the high CD4 count group, all these six exosomal miRNAs appeared to have higher AUC values compared to the low CD4 count group.

Conclusions

These six exosomal miRNAs could serve as potential biomarkers for diagnosing TB among PLHIV.