T-cell epitope mapping.
Identification of epitopes defined by T-cell responses aids to (1) monitor antigen-specific cellular immune responses (2) guide rational vaccine design, and (3) understand the nature of protective or harmful T-cell responses in diseases with defined target antigens. The 6-h intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) assay preferentially identifies effector T cells that are readily detectable in the peripheral circulation. In contrast, the whole blood assay (WBA) allows to gauge expansion of antigen-specific T cells over time (7 days), i.e., T cells with lower frequencies (e.g., memory T cells) defined by proliferation and cytokine production. Any cellular immune profile can be measured in the WBA (using the 7 days cell culture supernatants) or directly in responder T cells after antigenic stimulation (in the ICS) with appropriate cytokine-specific detection systems. The choice of the cytokine test panel depends on the nature of the expected immune response. A broad panel of candidate peptides can be tested for T-cell recognition in the WBA due to its simplicity and the low input of (unprocessed, heparinized) blood.
Microbiology and Tumor Cell Biology Center (MTC) Karolinska, Institute and the Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control (SMI), Stockholm, Nobels Väg 18, S-17 182, Stockholm, Sweden.
Raija K S
RK
Ahmed
Markus J
MJ
Maeurer
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D018604:Epitope Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D010455:Peptides / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology
D016207:Cytokines; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D010455:Peptides