IE63-specific T-cell responses associate with control of subclinical varicella zoster virus reactivation in individuals with malignancies.
BACKGROUND
Reactivation of the varicella zoster virus (VZV) is more common in patients with malignancies; however, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying this susceptibility are unclear.


METHODS
Using ex vivo interferon-gamma ELISpot assays, we set out to analyse VZV-specific immune responses in a large cohort of patients with malignancies.


RESULTS
We observed that patients with malignancies had impaired VZV-specific T-cell responses, particularly in those with haematological malignancies and breast carcinoma. Immediate-early protein 63 (IE63)-specific T-cell responses were significantly impaired in those with subclinical VZV re-activation.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that T-cell responses to IE63 are important in controlling VZV replication.
Malavige
G N
GN
Department of Microbiology, University of Sri Jayawardanapura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka.
Rohanachandra
L T
LT
Jones
L
L
Crack
L
L
Perera
M
M
Fernando
N
N
Guruge
D
D
Ogg
G S
GS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D014766:Viremia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014775:Virus Activation / Q000276:immunology*
D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines; C074551:immediate early protein 63, Human herpesvirus 3; D007371:Interferon-gamma