Circulating Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Is Associated with Latent Tuberculosis Infection in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

Publication date: Jun 04, 2025

Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is prevalent in patients with type 2 diabetes. We aimed to examine the relationship between serum levels of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and LTBI in patients with type 2 diabetes. In this cross-sectional study, patients with type 2 diabetes were screened for LTBI using the QuantiFERON-TB (QFT) test. Of 543 patients screened for LTBI, 133 (24. 5%) were QFT-positive. The QFT-positive patients had higher AhR levels than the QFT-negative patients (44. 6 [interquartile range: 25. 4-58. 6] pg/mL vs. 37. 8 [interquartile range: 17. 4-55. 0] pg/mL; p = 0. 004). According to the receiver operating characteristic curve, the area under the curve was 0. 584 (95% confidence interval: 0. 528-0. 639; p = 0. 004) and the optimal cutoff value for serum AhR levels was of 37. 7 pg/mL for differentiating a QFT-positive result. By a multivariable logistic regression analysis, the patients with high AhR levels had a greater risk of being QFT positive than those with low AhR levels (odds ratio = 1. 902, 95% confidence interval: 1. 254-2. 886; p = 0. 003). In conclusion, in patients with type 2 diabetes, a high serum AhR level was associated with LTBI.

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