title: First characterization of the CD4 and CD8 T-cell responses to QuantiFERON-TB Plus.
abstract: QuantiFERON®-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) is the new generation of QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube test to identify latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). QFT-Plus includes TB1 and TB2 tubes which contain selected Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) peptides designed to stimulate both CD4 and CD8 T-cells. Aim of this study is the flow cytometric characterization of the specific CD4 and CD8 T-cell responses to Mtb antigens contained within QFT-Plus.
  
  
  
  We enrolled 27 active tuberculosis (TB) patients and 30 LTBI individuals. Following stimulation with TB1 and TB2, antigen-specific T-cells were characterized by flow cytometry. Data were also correlated with the grade of TB severity.
  
  
  
  TB1 mainly elicited a CD4 T-cell response while TB2 induced both CD4 and CD8 responses. Moreover, the TB2-specific CD4 response was detected for both active TB and LTBI patients, whereas the TB2-specific CD8 response was primarily associated with active TB (p = 0.01).
  
  
  
  To our knowledge, we report the first characterization of the CD4 and CD8 T-cell response to QFT-Plus. CD8 T-cell response is mainly due to TB2 stimulation which is largely associated to active TB. These results provide a better knowledge on the use of this assay.
authors.affiliation: Translational Research Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases L Spallanzani (INMI), Department of Epidemiology and Preclinical Research, Via Portuense 292, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Petruccioli
authors.affiliation: Translational Research Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases L Spallanzani (INMI), Department of Epidemiology and Preclinical Research, Via Portuense 292, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chiacchio
authors.affiliation: Translational Research Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases L Spallanzani (INMI), Department of Epidemiology and Preclinical Research, Via Portuense 292, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pepponi
authors.affiliation: Translational Research Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases L Spallanzani (INMI), Department of Epidemiology and Preclinical Research, Via Portuense 292, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vanini
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department, INMI, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Rocco
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Urso
authors.affiliation: Translational Research Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases L Spallanzani (INMI), Department of Epidemiology and Preclinical Research, Via Portuense 292, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Gilda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cuzzi
authors.affiliation: Emerging Bacterial Pathogens Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Stamira d'Ancona 20, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barcellini
authors.affiliation: Emerging Bacterial Pathogens Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Stamira d'Ancona 20, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela Maria
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Cirillo
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department, INMI, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Palmieri
authors.affiliation: Scientific Direction, INMI, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ippolito
authors.affiliation: Translational Research Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases L Spallanzani (INMI), Department of Epidemiology and Preclinical Research, Via Portuense 292, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: delia.goletti@inmi.it.
authors.forename: Delia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goletti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D055985:Latent Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology*; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D007371:Interferon-gamma
keywords: Active TB; CD4; CD8; LTBI; QuantiFERON-TB Plus; Tuberculosis