Personalized profiles of antioxidant signaling pathway in patients with tuberculosis

Background/purpose: The non-protein thiol glutathione is protective against infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and, together with the transcription factor NRF2 (the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2), plays a crucial role in counteracting MTB-induced redox imbalance. Many genes implicated in the antioxidant response belong to the NRF2-signalling pathway, whose central role in the pathogenesis of tuberculosis (TB) has been recently proposed. Methods: In this study, we measured GSH levels in blood of patients with active TB and analysed the individual NRF2-mediated redox profile, in order to provide additional tools for discriminating the pathologic TB state and addressing therapeutic interventions. Results: Our findings show a systemic individual modulation of GSH and NRF2 signaling pathway in patients with TB, with a “personalized” induction of NRF2-target genes. Conclusion: This study can provide useful tools to monitor the course of the infection and address patients’ treatment.