Ex vivo monitoring of human cytomegalovirus-specific CD8+ T-cell responses using QuantiFERON-CMV.
We have developed a novel diagnostic technology to monitor the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-specific CD8+ T-cell responses that is based on the detection of secreted interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in the whole blood (referred to as QuantiFERON -CMV). Evaluation of QuantiFERON -CMV in healthy individuals revealed that this technology was at least as sensitive and with some HCMV epitopes more sensitive than the ELISPOT for detecting ex vivo IFN-gamma. Results from QuantiFERON -CMV assays showed 97% (36/37 individuals) agreement with the anti-HCMV serology test in healthy individuals. Furthermore, we also show that this technology can be used to assess HCMV-specific T-cell responses in transplant patients. This study shows that QuantiFERON -CMV is a simple, reproducible, and reliable test for the detection of IFN-gamma in response to HCMV CD8+ T-cell epitopes, and may be a valuable diagnostic test for the detection of HCMV infection and a useful clinical tool for monitoring the immune response in immunosuppressed patients during therapy.
Walker
S
S
Tumour Immunology Laboratory and Co-Operative Centre for Vaccine Technology, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston, Queensland, Australia.
Fazou
C
C
Crough
T
T
Holdsworth
R
R
Kiely
P
P
Veale
M
M
Bell
S
S
Gailbraith
A
A
McNeil
K
K
Jones
S
S
Khanna
R
R
D000328:Adult; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged
D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D007371:Interferon-gamma