title: Specific interferon-gamma producing CD4+ and CD8+ T cells after autologous EBV-B stimulation: the necessity of restimulation.
abstract: The response of T cells to produce interferon-gamma, to proliferate and to become cytotoxic after specific stimulation with low dose (2%) autologous EBV-B cells was investigated in 15 EBV seropositive and five seronegative patients. A significantly higher number of interferon-gamma producing cells (56 +/- 24 per 10(5) T cells) were found in a spot ELISA in EBV positive than in EBV negative patients (7 +/- 2 spots, P < 0.01) and it was only found with restimulation after 5-12 days of primary culture. No correlation was found between the extent of interferon-gamma production, cytotoxicity or proliferation. Specificity of EBV-induced interferon-gamma production was demonstrated by comparison of the response to allogeneic EBV-B cells or IL-2 in the restimulation phase. The response was stronger in CD8+ T cells than in CD4+ T cells and could be blocked in the restimulation phase with HLA class I and class II antiserum, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunohaematology, University Hospital Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Vooijs
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Nootebos
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wernert
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: de Gast
mesh_terms: D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D007371:Interferon-gamma