title: Functional profile of human influenza virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity is influenced by interleukin-2 concentration and epitope specificity.
abstract: The ability of influenza A virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) to degranulate and produce cytokines upon antigenic restimulation was studied in four HLA-A*0101 and HLA-A*0201 positive subjects. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells of these subjects were stimulated with influenza A virus in the presence of high or low interleukin (IL)-2 concentrations. CD8(+) T cell populations specific for the HLA-A*0101 restricted epitope NP(44-52) and the HLA-A*0201 restricted epitope M1(58-66) were identified by positive staining with tetramers of peptide major histocompatibility complexes (MHC) (NP-Tm and M1-Tm, respectively). Within these populations, the proportion of cells mobilizing CD107a, or expressing interferon (IFN)-gamma and tumour necrosis factor-(TNF)-alpha upon short-term peptide restimulation was determined by flow cytometry. Independent of IL-2 concentrations, large subject-dependent differences in the mobilization of CD107a and expression of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha by both NP- and M1-specific T cells were observed. In two of the four subjects, the functional profile of NP-Tm(+) and M1-Tm(+) cells differed considerably. Overall, no difference in the proportion of NP-Tm(+) or M1-Tm(+) cells expressing CD107a was observed. The proportion of M1-Tm(+) cells that produced IFN-gamma (P < 0.05) was larger than for NP-Tm(+) cells, independent of IL-2 concentration. When cultured under IL-2(hi) concentrations higher TNF-alpha expression was also observed in M1-Tm(+) cells (P < 0.05). The IL-2 concentration during expansion of virus-specific cells had a profound effect on the functionality of both M1-Tm(+) and NP-Tm(+) cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology and WHO National Influenza Center, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: A C M
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Boon
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: de Mutsert
authors.forename: R A M
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Fouchier
authors.forename: A D M E
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Osterhaus
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Rimmelzwaan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D015234:HLA-A Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D015788:HLA-A1 Antigen; D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D015234:HLA-A Antigens; C435939:HLA-A*02:01 antigen; D015788:HLA-A1 Antigen; D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen; D007376:Interleukin-2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma