Correlation between childhood tuberculosis and abundance of T cell gene transcription and impaired T cell function

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the relationship amongst childhood tuberculosis, abundance of T cell gene transcription and impairment of T cell function. Methods: A total of 329 pediatric patients treated for tuberculosis in Central Hospital of Zibo, Zibo, China from 2017 to 2019 were enrolled in the study. Among them, 167 cases of tuberculosis-hospitalized children were assigned to the TB group. Additionally, 162 well- and adequately-treated patients with a previous history of tuberculosis were selected as the control group. The abundance of continuous gene transcripts in the peripheral blood of the children was analyzed. The RNA profiles were analyzed via microarray, while interferon (IFN) level was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The T cell proliferation was determined by thymidine assay. Results: Within 6 months of the commencement of treatment, the differentially expressed transcripts returned the expression in children in the control group. The abundance of Talipes equinovarus, atrial septal defect, robin sequence, and the persistence of the left superior vena cava (TARP) gene transcription in the TB group was lower than in the control group on days 30, 120 and 180 (p < 0.05), while IL1R2 gene transcription abundance in the TB group was higher than in the control group on days 30, 120 ,180 (p < 0.05). The proliferation of T cells and IFNγ in tuberculosis children (TB group) were lower than in healthy controls (p < 0.05). In this study, a total of 129 genes were found to have significant differences in expression, and hence it is speculated that changes in RNA abundance altered the immune pathway. Conclusion: The reduced abundance of T cell gene transcription and renovated T cell function in children with tuberculosis are related to acquired immunodeficiency. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis in children.