
Abstract: PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of baseline interferon (IFN)-inducible gene expression as a prognostic biomarker for Anti-tubercular therapy (ATT) response in patients with undetermined cause of uveitis who tested positive for QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT-positive uveitis). METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 17 QFT-positive uveitis patients at a tertiary uveitis center in Indonesia. Baseline and week 2 peripheral blood transcripts were evaluated through real time-quantitative polymerase chain reaction to assess the expression of 10 IFN-inducible genes (IRF7, IFIT2, STAT1, IL1B, MyD88, TLR8, FCGR1B, GBP1, UBE2L6, and SERPING1). Patients were stratified into clusters based on gene expression patterns. The primary outcome was complete resolution of uveitis at 6 months. RESULTS: Hierarchical clustering revealed two distinct groups. Patients with higher baseline expression of IFN genes (Cluster 2) were more likely to achieve complete uveitis resolution after ATT compared to those with lower expression levels (Cluster 1) (80% vs. 43%). Using a previously established IFN gene signature score (IGSS) cutoff (≥5.61), 82% of high-scoring patients showed complete resolution, compared to only 33% in the low-scoring group (P = 0.046). However, week 2 gene expression changes did not correlate with treatment response, indicating limited utility in monitoring disease activity or predicting long-term outcomes. CONCLUSION: Baseline, but not week 2, peripheral blood IFN-inducible gene expression may serve as a prognostic biomarker for stratifying QFT-positive uveitis patients through prediction of their response to treatment. Patients with higher baseline IGSS are more likely to require ATT to achieve uveitis resolution at 6-month follow-up.
Ophthalmology, tuberculosis, precision medicine, antituberculosis therapy, gene expression, uveitis, biomarkers, RE1-994, Original Article (Prospective Cohort Study), interferon-inducible gene expression, quantiferon-tb gold
Ophthalmology, tuberculosis, precision medicine, antituberculosis therapy, gene expression, uveitis, biomarkers, RE1-994, Original Article (Prospective Cohort Study), interferon-inducible gene expression, quantiferon-tb gold
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 0 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Average | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
