title: Human cytomegalovirus-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses in primary infection of the immunocompetent and the immunocompromised host.
abstract: The kinetics of primary human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection and specific T-cell responses were investigated in 16 immunocompetent pregnant women and 8 solid-organ transplant recipients (SOTR). T-cell responses to whole HCMV and to pp65 and IE-1 peptides were determined by flow cytometry evaluation of IFNgamma production. HCMV-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cells appeared earlier and simultaneously in immunocompetent subjects, whereas specific CD8(+) T-cells preceded CD4(+) T-cells in half of the SOTR examined. The magnitude of the HCMV-specific T-cell pool was comparable. HCMV load reached peak levels 100-1000 times higher in SOTR than in immunocompetent women, while the virus persisted for months in blood of both groups. T-cells directed to pp65 and IE-1 were only detected in a portion of subjects developing a full T-cell response to the whole virus. Thus, the development of cell-mediated immune response in primary HCMV infection may be missed when looking at pp65 and IE-1 peptide-stimulated T-cells only.
authors.affiliation: Servizio di Virologia, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lilleri
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zelini
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fornara
authors.forename: Giuditta
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Comolli
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Revello
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gerna
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016867:Immunocompromised Host / Q000276:immunology; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000276:immunology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C088645:IE1 protein, cytomegalovirus; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins; C065418:cytomegalovirus matrix protein 65kDa; D007371:Interferon-gamma