title: CD4(+) T Cell Priming as Biomarker to Study Immune Response to Preventive Vaccines.
abstract: T cell priming is a critical event in the initiation of the immune response to vaccination since it deeply influences both the magnitude and the quality of the immune response induced. CD4(+) T cell priming, required for the induction of high-affinity antibodies and immune memory, represents a key target for improving and modulating vaccine immunogenicity. A major challenge in the study of in vivo T cell priming is due to the low frequency of antigen-specific T cells. This review discusses the current knowledge on antigen-specific CD4(+) T cell priming in the context of vaccination, as well as the most advanced tools for the characterization of the in vivo T cell priming and the opportunities offered by the application of systems biology.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Microbiologia Molecolare e Biotecnologia (LA.M.M.B.), Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche, Università di Siena , Siena , Italy.
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ciabattini
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Microbiologia Molecolare e Biotecnologia (LA.M.M.B.), Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche, Università di Siena , Siena , Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pettini
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Microbiologia Molecolare e Biotecnologia (LA.M.M.B.), Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche, Università di Siena , Siena , Italy.
authors.forename: Donata
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Medaglini
keywords: CD4+ T cells; MHC class II tetramers; T cell priming; adoptive transfer; mucosal immunity; vaccination