Elevated Plasma Matrix Metalloproteinase-8 associates with Sputum Culture Positivity in Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Current methods for tuberculosis (TB) treatment monitoring are suboptimal. We evaluated plasma matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and procollagen III N-terminal propeptide concentrations before and during TB treatment as biomarkers. Plasma MMP-1, -8 and -10 significantly decreased during treatment. Plasma MMP-8 was increased in sputum Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture positive relative to culture negative participants, prior to (median 4609 pg/ml, IQR 2353-9048 vs 775 pg/ml, IQR 551-4920, p=0.019) and after 6 months (median 3650, IQR 1214-3888 vs 720, IQR 551-1321, p=0.008) of TB treatment. Consequently, plasma MMP-8 is a potential biomarker to enhance TB treatment monitoring and screen for possible culture positivity.