Sputum Proteomics Reveals a Shift in Vitamin D-binding Protein and Antimicrobial Protein Axis in Tuberculosis Patients

Existing understanding of molecular composition of sputum and its role in tuberculosis patients is variously limited to its diagnostic potential. We sought to identify infection induced sputum proteome alteration in active/non tuberculosis patients (A/NTB) and their role in altered lung patho-physiology. Out of the study population (n = 118), sputum proteins isolated from discovery set samples (n = 20) was used for an 8-plex isobaric tag for relative and absolute concentration analysis. A minimum set of protein with at least log(2)(ATB/NTB) >±1.0 in ATB was selected as biosignature and validated in 32 samples. Predictive accuracy was calculated from area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC of ROC) using a confirmatory set (n = 50) by Western blot analysis. Mass spectrometry analysis identified a set of 192 sputum proteins, out of which a signature of β-integrin, vitamin D binding protein:DBP, uteroglobin, profilin and cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide was sufficient to differentiate ATB from NTB. AUC of ROC of the biosignature was calculated to 0.75. A shift in DBP-antimicrobial peptide (AMP) axis in the lungs of tuberculosis patients is observed. The identified sputum protein signature is a promising panel to differentiate ATB from NTB groups and suggest a deregulated DBP-AMP axis in lungs of tuberculosis patients.