title: Multimer monitoring of CMV-specific T cells in research and in clinical applications.
abstract: Multimer monitoring has become a standard technique for detection of antigen-specific T cells. The term "multimer" refers to a group of reagents based on the multimerisation of molecules in order to raise avidity and thus stabilize binding to their ligand. Multimers for detection of antigen-specific T-cell responses are based on major histocompatibility complex class I peptide complexes. Multimer staining enables fast and direct visualization of antigen-specific T cells; thus, it is widely applied to assess antiviral immunity, e.g., monitor patients in vaccination trials or confirm purity of cell products for adoptive transfer. Assessment of T-cell immunity against persistent pathogens like cytomegalovirus (CMV) is of major importance in immunosuppressed patients. Recent advancements of multimers facilitate reversible labeling and allow isolation of epitope-specific T cells for adoptive transfer. Here, we give an overview on the different multimers and their applications, with an emphasis on CMV-specific T-cell responses.
authors: Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany; Integrated Research and Treatment Center Transplantation (IFB-Tx), Hannover, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partnerside Hannover-Braunschweig, Germany. Electronic address: borchers.sylvia@mh-hannover.de.
authors: Sylvia
authors: S
authors: Borchers
authors: Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany. Electronic address: ogonek.justyna@mh-hannover.de.
authors: Justyna
authors: J
authors: Ogonek
authors: Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany; Integrated Research and Treatment Center Transplantation (IFB-Tx), Hannover, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partnerside Hannover-Braunschweig, Germany. Electronic address: varanasi.pavankumar@mh-hannover.de.
authors: Pavankumar R
authors: PR
authors: Varanasi
authors: Institute of Transfusion Medicine, MHH, Hannover, Germany. Electronic address: tischer.sabine@mh-hannover.de.
authors: Sabine
authors: S
authors: Tischer
authors: Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany. Electronic address: Melanie.Bremm@kgu.de.
authors: Melanie
authors: M
authors: Bremm
authors: Integrated Research and Treatment Center Transplantation (IFB-Tx), Hannover, Germany; Institute of Transfusion Medicine, MHH, Hannover, Germany. Electronic address: eiz-vesper.britta@mh-hannover.de.
authors: Britta
authors: B
authors: Eiz-Vesper
authors: Integrated Research and Treatment Center Transplantation (IFB-Tx), Hannover, Germany; Institute for Cellular Therapeutics, MHH, Hannover, Germany. Electronic address: koehl.ulrike@mh-hannover.de.
authors: Ulrike
authors: U
authors: Koehl
authors: Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany; Integrated Research and Treatment Center Transplantation (IFB-Tx), Hannover, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partnerside Hannover-Braunschweig, Germany. Electronic address: mischak-weissinger.eva@mh-hannover.de.
authors: Eva M
authors: EM
authors: Weissinger
mesh_terms: D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex / Q000276:immunology; D055503:Protein Multimerization; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
keywords: Cytomegalovirus; Histamer; Infectious complications; Multimer; Pentamer; Stem cell transplantation; Streptamer; T cell; Tetramer