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 miR486) 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 & sdot;<mu>L-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.