Determination of HCV-specific T-cell activity.
The magnitude and breadth of T-cell responses against HCV are associated with the outcome of HCV infection. Parameters of HCV-specific T-cell responses that are frequently assessed in clinical immunological studies include proliferation of T cells in response to HCV antigens, frequency of HCV-specific T cells secreting cytokines, and changes in antigen specificity during the course of HCV infection. Common techniques for assessing these parameters such as (3)H-thymidine incorporation assay, cytokine ELISpot assay, and strategies for epitope mapping and identification of minimal optimal epitopes are outlined, and detailed protocols are described.
Yoon
Joo Chun
JC
Immunology Section, Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Rehermann
Barbara
B
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D018604:Epitope Mapping; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013936:Thymidine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D014316:Tritium / Q000737:chemistry; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
D000939:Epitopes; D010455:Peptides; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; D014316:Tritium; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D013936:Thymidine