Human cytomegalovirus infection during pregnancy and detection of specific T cells by intracellular cytokine staining.
OBJECTIVE
The flow cytometric assay was evaluated as a tool for real-time monitoring of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-specific cellular immunity in pregnant women.


METHODS
We screened for HCMV infection in pregnant women in Sapporo, Japan, during the year 2000, by serologic assays, virus isolation from urine, and PCR to detect DNA in cervical swabs. The frequencies of HCMV-specific CD4+ T cells in pregnant women with serum anti-HCMV IgG antibody were detected by intracellular cytokine (ICC), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) staining.


RESULTS
The levels of intracellular cytokines in pregnant women with serum anti-HCMV IgG antibody were significantly higher than those in women without anti-HCMV IgG antibody (P = 0.011 for IFN-gamma and P = 0.023 for TNF-alpha) but lower than those in non-pregnant women with serum anti-HCMV IgG antibody. Frequencies of HCMV-specific CD4+ T cells were higher in infants with symptomatic congenital infection than in infants with asymptomatic perinatal infection.


CONCLUSIONS
This ICC assay may reflect immunologic activity against HCMV infection in pregnant women with immunosuppressive conditions.
Fujikawa
Tomoko
T
Department of Pediatrics, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
Numazaki
Kei
K
Asanuma
Hideomi
H
Tsutsumi
Hiroyuki
H
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000821:virology; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000151:congenital / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D014556:Urine / Q000821:virology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma