Background: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by NADPH oxidase has a pivotal role in the nonspecific innate immune response to invading microorganisms including M. tuberculosis  (MTB). NCF2 and NOX2 were considered as important functional subunits of NADPH oxidase complex; hence, this study aimed to evaluate the NCF2, NOX2 mRNA expressions in PBMC of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients.
Methods: A total of 79 PTB patients and 73 controls were included in our study. Quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to measure the NCF2, NOX2 mRNA levels, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to assess the diagnostic value of NCF2, NOX2 in PTB patients.
Results: When compared to controls, the NCF2, NOX2 mRNA levels were significantly increased in PBMC from PTB patients (P < 0.001). However, the NCF2, NOX2 mRNA levels were not associated with major clinical and laboratory data of PTB patients. Area under curve (AUC) of ROC curve analysis for NCF2 and NOX2 were 0.686 (95% CI: 0.601, 0.770) and 0.705 (95% CI: 0.623, 0.787), respectively.
Conclusion: Altered NCF2, NOX2 mRNA levels in PTB patients implied that these genes might play roles in PTB, and their expression levels might be potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of PTB.
Keywords: pulmonary tuberculosis, NADPH oxidase complex, NCF2, NOX2, peripheral blood mononuclear cells