title: MIGRAs: are they the new IGRAs? Development of monokine-amplified IFN-γ release assays.
abstract: IFN-γ release by antigen-specific T cells can be used to track immune responses to infections and vaccines. In recent years, there have been substantial advances in the techniques available to measure IFN-γ release and a generation of such assays are now available for clinical use, as well as in a research setting. Interferon release leads to subsequent release of interferon-responsive chemokines such as MIG and IP-10, thus amplifying the original signal. A number of investigators have assessed whether measurement of these chemokines might provide a sensitive platform for detection of infection and antigen-specific T-cell responses. In this article, we assess the potential of these new approaches. We have termed the new antigen-specific T-cell assays monokine-amplified IFN-γ release assays (MIGRAs). Overall, it seems likely that improvements in the detection threshold could be made by analysis of antigen-triggered chemokines and potentially of other molecules in the future, although whether MIGRAs will provide additional clinical utility still remains to be determined.
authors.affiliation: Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT & Harvard, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Victoria O
authors.initials: VO
authors.lastname: Kasprowicz
authors.forename: John S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Halliday
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Klenerman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D015846:Monokines / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D015846:Monokines; D007371:Interferon-gamma