Alteration of endocrine hormone profiles in different spectrum of TB disease
Yosef T1*, Abebe N1, Samuel K1, Liya W2
1Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Addis Ababa University; 2 Armauer Hansen Research Institute
Hormones often act as immunomodulators. Immune and endocrine interaction during infectious diseases like TB may determine the failure or success of the immune response. The aim of this study was to assess selected endocrine hormones profiles in different spectrum of TB disease from repository plasma samples at the Armauer Hansen Research Institute laboratory. A total of 226 plasma samples, collected from TB patients and household contacts, were retrieved randomly from AHRI biorepository and evaluated for DHEA, cortisol, testosterone, estradiol, growth hormone and leptin hormones concentration using ELISA. Plasma cortisol level was significantly higher in PTB and TBLN patients compared to both LTBI uninfected groups and infected groups. The levels of DHEA and leptin were significantly low in PTB patients compared to LTBI uninfected groups. Similarly, levels of leptin were significantly lower in TBLN compared to LTBI uninfected groups. On the other hand, plasma levels of DHEA, estradiol, testosterone and leptin significantly increased in PTB patients following treatment, whereas the concentration of cortisol and human growth hormone declined significantly after treatment. This alteration of hormones during TB disease suggests that hormones might play a role in immune response to M. tuberculosis and their potential to be biomarker of treatment response.