To ensure the stability and reliability of the above results, an external dataset (GSE34608) was used to test the expression of candidate key genes, revealing that SPATS2L, RTP4, RSAD2, OAS3, IFI44L, IFI44, CXCL10, and CD38 were upregulated in TB patients compared to healthy controls. Here, SPATS2L is linked to tuberculosis.