title: Human cytomegalovirus-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell response determination: comparison of short-term (24h) assays vs long-term (7-day) infected dendritic cell assay in the immunocompetent and the immunocompromised host.
abstract: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cells were measured in the immunocompetent host as well as in 13 solid-organ transplant recipients (SOTR), and 12 young hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients (HSCTR) by using a long-term (7-day) assay based on PBMC stimulation by HCMV-infected dendritic cells (iDC), and two short-term (24h) assays, one for CD4(+) stimulation by infected cell lysate (iCL), and the other for CD8(+) stimulation by a pool of 34 epitopic peptides (pep-pool). In the immunocompetent, the number of T-cells activated by either iCL or the pep-pool was significantly reduced with respect to iDC. In both SOTR and HSCTR, the number of T-cells activated by iDC was comparable to that activated by iCL or the pep-pool. A significant correlation between iDC-activated T-cells and T-cells activated by either iCL or the pep-pool was observed. In conclusion, whenever a rapid result is needed, short-term assays may efficiently replace the iDC assay.
authors.affiliation: Service of Virology and Microbiology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zelini
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lilleri
authors.forename: Giuditta
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Comolli
authors.forename: Vanina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rognoni
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiesa
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fornara
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Locatelli
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Meloni
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gerna
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods*; D007121:Immunocompetence / Q000276:immunology*; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016377:Organ Transplantation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult