Expression profile of plasma biomarkers of inflammation and immune activation in TB-HIV co-infected patients on anti-TB therapy.

(A) Left panel shows Mycobacterium tuberculosis sputum culture grade in samples from TB-HIV co-infected individuals at study enrollment (pre-ART) stratified by time on anti-TB treatment (ATT). Data were compared using the Mann-Whitney test. Right panel shows the frequency of IRIS vs. non-IRIS patients taking ATT for different durations (≤4 weeks and>4 weeks). Data were compared using the Chi-square test. (B) A heat map was designed to depict the overall pattern of expression of plasma cytokines, chemokines and inflammatory biomarkers in TB-HIV co-infected patients at different time points after ATT initiation. A hierarchical cluster analysis (Ward's method) of circulating biomarkers by clinical group and time point was performed. Expression scale for each biomarker represents change from the geometric mean of the entire study population (n = 48). Differences between medians were compared using the Mann-Whitney test. * P<0.05, ** P<0.01, *** P<0.001.