New Insights into Tuberculosis Lesions Link Molecular Profiles with Patient Clinical Indicators

Recent research published in Nature Communications has shed light on the complex relationship between the molecular characteristics of tuberculosis (TB) lung lesions and clinical outcomes in patients. Conducted by the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute and associated medical centers, the study analyzed tissue samples from 44 patients with drug-sensitive and multidrug-resistant TB who underwent surgical treatment. Using advanced RNA sequencing techniques, researchers identified distinct transcriptomic patterns differentiating lesion tissue from healthy lung areas. The analysis revealed 17 gene co-expression modules associated with immune responses, displaying a gradient depending on lesion location.

Importantly, this study is the first to connect molecular profiles directly with clinical indicators from the same patients. Findings showed that patients with more severe disease symptoms tend to have highly inflamed lesions, while those with improved clinical status exhibit tissue repair signatures. The researchers employed clinical measures such as a validated respiratory quality of life questionnaire and sputum culture conversion times to establish these correlations.

The study highlights that inflammatory activity within TB lesions aligns with patients’ reported symptoms and bacterial clearance rates. Patients experiencing longer times to sputum culture conversion also exhibited increased immune activation in their lesions, suggesting potential for personalized treatment strategies. Dr. Cristina Vilaplana emphasized that adjusting therapies based on lesion inflammation could improve outcomes for patients who do not respond quickly.

Supported by collaborations across international institutions, this research opens new avenues for tailored interventions in TB treatment, integrating molecular and clinical data to better understand and combat the disease.