title: Flow cytometric analysis of cytomegalovirus-specific cell-mediated immunity in the congenital infection.
abstract: Flow cytometric analysis of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells specific to human cytomegalovirus (CMV) was undertaken in seven patients with congenital CMV infection, six healthy infants who had acquired infection, and six CMV-seropositive adults. Intracellular cytokine assays showed that 0.03-2.23% of CD4(+) T cells in the healthy infants and adults produced interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in response to CMV antigens. In contrast, such CD4(+) T cells were almost undetectable in patients with congenital CMV infection who were younger than 2 years of age. Tetrameric major histocompatibility complex/peptide complex analysis demonstrated HLA*A2402-restricted phosphoprotein 65-specific CD8(+) T cells to be present in most healthy infants and adults tested, but almost absent in the patients. Interestingly, CMV-specific CD4(+) T-cell responses were observed in two patients with congenital infection beyond the age of 5 years. The present study points to impairment of CMV-specific cellular immunity in patients in single-cell levels with congenital CMV infection during the infant period and possible restoration in later childhood.
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunology, Aichi Cancer Center Research Institute, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Tsuneo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Morishima
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsurumi
authors.forename: Kiyotaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuzushima
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000151:congenital* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015234:HLA-A Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008875:Middle Aged; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D015234:HLA-A Antigens; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins; C065418:cytomegalovirus matrix protein 65kDa