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.
Ahmed
Raija K S
RK
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.
Maeurer
Markus J
MJ
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