News 2026

The team analyzed whole blood samples from patients with pulmonary TB before treatment initiation, after 14 days of therapy and at treatment completion, comparing the results with samples from healthy controls. Using multiparameter flow cytometrythe researchers identified immune cell populations that changed the most during therapy.

Based on this data, the team developed two different models, known as ‘TB5 scores’, each of which is based on a specific combination of five types of immune cell. The most robust model, the TB5_Lasso score, distinguished patients before and after treatment with high accuracy while also separating untreated TB patients from healthy controls. A second TB5_{LF change} score, based on the immune cell populations showing the largest treatment-associated changes, demonstrated similarly strong diagnostic performance. “What is particularly interesting here is the comparison of two independent approaches to identify informative immune cell markers. The fact that both models, independently of one another, point to similar immune cell populations suggests their importance in the immune response to tuberculosis.”, says Dr. Reimann.

The molecule PD-L1 (programmed cell death ligand 1) played a key role in the analyses. It is expressed on the surface of certain immune cells and, depending on the situation, can either boost or suppress the activity of the immune system. Whilst PD-L1 has already been well studied in cancer research, it is also becoming increasingly important in infectious diseases such as tuberculosis. In both TB5 models, PD-L1-positive immune cell populations were independently identified as important markers – in particular PD-L1⁺CD80⁻ neutrophils and PD-L1⁺HLA-DR⁺CD4⁺ lymphocytes. “Examining cell surface proteins such as PD-L1 can provide valuable insights into whether the immune response is balanced or dysregulated.”,comments Dr. Sanchez Carballo. Their independent selection in both models suggests that PD-L1-associated immune responses may play an important role in active tuberculosis and treatment response.

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