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Chu C, Schönbrunn A, Elitok S, Kern F, Schnatbaum K, Wenschuh H, Klemm K, von Baehr V, Krämer BK, Hocher B. T-cell proliferation assay for the detection of SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cells. Clin Chim Acta 2022; 532:130-136. [PMID: 35690083 PMCID: PMC9174102 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2022.05.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Both infection with and vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 trigger a complex B-cell and T-cell response. Methods for the analysis of the B-cell response are now well established. However, reliable methods for measuring the T-cell response are less well established and their usefulness in clinical settings still needs to be proven. Here, we have developed and validated a T-cell proliferation assay based on 3H thymidine incorporation. The assay is using SARS-CoV-2 derived peptide pools that cover the spike (S), the nucleocapsid (N) and the membrane (M) protein for stimulation. We have compared this novel SARS-CoV-2 lymphocyte transformation test (SARS-CoV-2 LTT) to an established ELISA assay detecting Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to the S1 subunit of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The study was carried out using blood samples from both vaccinated and infected health care workers as well as from a non-infected control group. Our novel SARS-CoV-2 LTT shows excellent discrimination of infected and/or vaccinated individuals versus unexposed controls, with the ROC analysis showing an area under the curve (AUC) of > 0.95. No false positives were recorded as all unexposed controls had a negative LTT result. When using peptide pools not only representing the S protein (found in all currently approved vaccines) but also the N and M proteins (not contained in the vast majority of vaccines), the novel SARS-CoV-2 LTT can also discriminate T-cell responses resulting from vaccination against those induced by infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Chu
- Fifth Department of Medicine (Nephrology/Endocrinology/Rheumatology/Pneumology), University Medical Centre Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Nephrology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anne Schönbrunn
- Institute of Medical Diagnostics, IMD Berlin-Potsdam, Berlin, Germany
| | - Saban Elitok
- Fifth Department of Medicine (Nephrology/Endocrinology/Rheumatology/Pneumology), University Medical Centre Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Nephrology and Endocrinology, Ernst von Bergmann Hospital Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Florian Kern
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton BN1 9PX, UK; JPT Peptide Technologies, Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | - Kristin Klemm
- Fifth Department of Medicine (Nephrology/Endocrinology/Rheumatology/Pneumology), University Medical Centre Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Nephrology and Endocrinology, Ernst von Bergmann Hospital Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Volker von Baehr
- Institute of Medical Diagnostics, IMD Berlin-Potsdam, Berlin, Germany
| | - Bernhard K Krämer
- Fifth Department of Medicine (Nephrology/Endocrinology/Rheumatology/Pneumology), University Medical Centre Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany; European Center for Angioscience ECAS, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany; Center for Preventive Medicine and Digital Health Baden-Württemberg (CPDBW), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany; Mannheim Institute for Innate Immunoscience, Medical Faculty Mannheim of the University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Berthold Hocher
- Fifth Department of Medicine (Nephrology/Endocrinology/Rheumatology/Pneumology), University Medical Centre Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany; Institute of Medical Diagnostics, IMD Berlin-Potsdam, Berlin, Germany; Key Laboratory of Study and Discovery of Small Targeted Molecules of Hunan Province, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China; Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, China.
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Bajwa M, Vita S, Vescovini R, Larsen M, Sansoni P, Terrazzini N, Caserta S, Thomas D, Davies KA, Smith H, Kern F. CMV-Specific T-cell Responses at Older Ages: Broad Responses With a Large Central Memory Component May Be Key to Long-term Survival. J Infect Dis 2017; 215:1212-1220. [PMID: 28199648 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jix080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2016] [Accepted: 12/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection sometimes causes large expansions of CMV-specific T cells, particularly in older people. This is believed to undermine immunity to other pathogens and to accelerate immunosenescence. While multiple different CMV proteins are recognized, most publications on age-related T-cell expansions have focused on dominant target proteins UL83 or UL123, and the T-cell activation marker interferon-γ (IFN-γ). We were concerned that this narrow approach might have skewed our understanding of CMV-specific immunity at older ages. We have, therefore, widened the scope of analysis to include in vitro-induced T-cell responses to 19 frequently recognized CMV proteins in "young" and "older" healthy volunteers and a group of "oldest old" long-term survivors (>85 years of age). Polychromatic flow cytometry was used to analyze T-cell activation markers (CD107, CD154, interleukin-2 [IL-2], tumor necrosis factor [TNF], and IFN-γ) and memory phenotypes (CD27, CD45RA). The older group had, on average, larger T-cell responses than the young, but, interestingly, response size differences were relatively smaller when all activation markers were considered rather than IFN-γ or TNF alone. The oldest old group recognized more proteins on average than the other groups, and had even bigger T-cell responses than the older group with a significantly larger central memory CD4 T-cell component.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha Bajwa
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine
| | - Serena Vita
- Institute Pasteur, Cenci-Bolognetti Foundation, Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University Sapienza of Rome, and
| | | | - Martin Larsen
- Inserm UMR-S1135, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI-Paris), and.,AP-HP, Groupement Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Département d'Immunologie, Paris, France ; and
| | - Paolo Sansoni
- Dipartimento di Clinica Sperimentale, Università di Parma, Italy
| | - Nadia Terrazzini
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, United Kingdom
| | | | - David Thomas
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine
| | | | - Helen Smith
- Department of Primary Care and Public Health and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Florian Kern
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine
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Li Pira G, Di Cecca S, Biagini S, Girolami E, Cicchetti E, Bertaina V, Quintarelli C, Caruana I, Lucarelli B, Merli P, Pagliara D, Brescia LP, Bertaina A, Montanari M, Locatelli F. Preservation of Antigen-Specific Functions of αβ T Cells and B Cells Removed from Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplants Suggests Their Use As an Alternative Cell Source for Advanced Manipulation and Adoptive Immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2017; 8:332. [PMID: 28386262 PMCID: PMC5362590 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2016] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is standard therapy for numerous hematological diseases. The use of haploidentical donors, sharing half of the HLA alleles with the recipient, has facilitated the use of this procedure as patients can rely on availability of a haploidentical donor within their family. Since HLA disparity increases the risk of graft-versus-host disease, T-cell depletion has been used to remove alloreactive lymphocytes from the graft. Selective removal of αβ T cells, which encompass the alloreactive repertoire, combined with removal of B cells to prevent EBV-related lymphoproliferative disease, proved safe and effective in clinical studies. Depleted αβ T cells and B cells are generally discarded as by-products. Considering the possible use of donor T cells for donor lymphocyte infusions or for generation of pathogen-specific T cells as mediators of graft-versus-infection effect, we tested whether cells in the discarded fractions were functionally intact. Response to alloantigens and to viral antigens comparable to that of unmanipulated cells indicated a functional integrity of αβ T cells, in spite of the manipulation used for their depletion. Furthermore, B cells proved to be efficient antigen-presenting cells, indicating that antigen uptake, processing, and presentation were fully preserved. Therefore, we propose that separated αβ T lymphocytes could be employed for obtaining pathogen-specific T cells, applying available methods for positive selection, which eventually leads to indirect allodepletion. In addition, these functional T cells could undergo additional manipulation, such as direct allodepletion or genetic modification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppina Li Pira
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital , Rome , Italy
| | - Stefano Di Cecca
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital , Rome , Italy
| | - Simone Biagini
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital , Rome , Italy
| | - Elia Girolami
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital , Rome , Italy
| | - Elisabetta Cicchetti
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital , Rome , Italy
| | - Valentina Bertaina
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital , Rome , Italy
| | - Concetta Quintarelli
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy; Department of "Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia", University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Ignazio Caruana
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital , Rome , Italy
| | - Barbarella Lucarelli
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital , Rome , Italy
| | - Pietro Merli
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital , Rome , Italy
| | - Daria Pagliara
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital , Rome , Italy
| | - Letizia Pomponia Brescia
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital , Rome , Italy
| | - Alice Bertaina
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital , Rome , Italy
| | - Mauro Montanari
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital , Rome , Italy
| | - Franco Locatelli
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy; Department of Pediatrics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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Ahmad TA, Eweida AE, El-Sayed LH. T-cell epitope mapping for the design of powerful vaccines. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vacrep.2016.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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Abstract
Hematopoietic Stem Cells Transplantation (HSCT) is an effective treatment for hematological and non-hematological diseases. The main challenge in autologous HSCT is purging of malignant cells to prevent relapse. In allogeneic HSCT graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) and opportunistic infections are frequent complications. Two types of graft manipulation have been introduced: the first one in the autologous context aimed at separating malignant cells from hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), and the second one in allogeneic HSCT aimed at reducing the incidence of GvHD and at accelerating immune reconstitution. Here we describe the manipulations used for cell purging in autologous HSCT or for T Cell Depletion (TCD) and T cell selection in allogeneic HSCT. More complex manipulations, requiring a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facility, are briefly mentioned.
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Li Pira G, Di Cecca S, Montanari M, Moretta L, Manca F. Specific removal of alloreactive T-cells to prevent GvHD in hemopoietic stem cell transplantation: rationale, strategies and perspectives. Blood Rev 2016; 30:297-307. [PMID: 27066851 DOI: 10.1016/j.blre.2016.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2015] [Revised: 02/06/2016] [Accepted: 03/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Hemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a standard procedure for treatment of malignant and non-malignant hematological diseases. HSCT donors include HLA-identical siblings, matched or mismatched unrelated donors and haploidentical related donors. Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), mediated by donor alloreactive T-cells in the graft, can be triggered by minor histocompatibility antigens in HLA-identical pairs, by alleles at loci not considered for MUD-matching or by the mismatched haplotype in haplo-HSCT. Therefore, removal of donor T-cells, that contain the alloreactive precursors, is required, but T-cell depletion associates with opportunistic infections and with reduced graft-versus-leukemia effect. Selective T-cell depletion strategies have been introduced, like removal of αβ T-lymphocytes and of naive T-cells, two subsets including the alloreactive precursors, but the ultimate goal is specific removal of alloreactive T-cells. Here we review the different approaches to deplete alloreactive T-cells only and discuss pros and cons, specificity, efficiency and efficacy. Combinations of different methods and innovative approaches are also proposed for depleting specific alloreactive T-cells with high efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppina Li Pira
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Piazza S. Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy; Unit of Immuno-hematology and Transfusion Medicine, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Piazza S. Onoforio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy.
| | - Stefano Di Cecca
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Piazza S. Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy.
| | - Mauro Montanari
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Piazza S. Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy; Unit of Immuno-hematology and Transfusion Medicine, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Piazza S. Onoforio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy.
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Immunology Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Piazza S. Onoforio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy.
| | - Fabrizio Manca
- Immunology Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Piazza S. Onoforio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy.
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Li Pira G, Ivaldi F, Starc N, Landi F, Rutella S, Locatelli F, Sacchi N, Tripodi G, Manca F. A registry of HLA-typed donors for production of virus-specific CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes for adoptive reconstitution of immune-compromised patients. Transfusion 2014; 54:3145-54. [PMID: 25041366 DOI: 10.1111/trf.12754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2014] [Revised: 05/05/2014] [Accepted: 05/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Virus-specific CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes from HLA-matched donors are effective for treatment and prophylaxis of viral infections in immune-compromised recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. Adoptive immune reconstitution is based on selection of specific T cells or on generation of specific T-cell lines from the graft donor. Unfortunately, the graft donor is not always immune to the relevant pathogen or the graft donor may not be available (registry-derived or cord blood donors). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Since the possibility of using T cells from a third-party subject is now established, we screened potential donors for T-cell responses against cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and adenovirus, the viruses most frequently targeted by adoptive immune reconstitution. Specific T-cell responses against viral antigens were analyzed in 111 donors using a miniaturized interferon-γ release assay. RESULTS Responders to CMV were 64%, to EBV 40%, and to adenovirus 51%. Simultaneous responders to the three viruses were 49%. CMV-specific CD4 and CD8 T-cell lines could be generated from 11 of 12 donors defined as positive responders according to the T-cell assay. CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate that a large fraction of volunteers can be recruited in a donor registry for selection or expansion of virus specific T cells and that our T-cell assay predicts the donors' ability to give rise to established T-cell lines endowed with proliferative potential and effector function for adoptive immune reconstitution.
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Computationally driven deletion of broadly distributed T cell epitopes in a biotherapeutic candidate. Cell Mol Life Sci 2014; 71:4869-80. [PMID: 24880662 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-014-1652-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2014] [Revised: 04/23/2014] [Accepted: 05/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Biotherapeutics are subject to immune surveillance within the body, and anti-biotherapeutic immune responses can compromise drug efficacy and patient safety. Initial development of targeted antidrug immune memory is coordinated by T cell recognition of immunogenic subsequences, termed "T cell epitopes." Biotherapeutics may therefore be deimmunized by mutating key residues within cognate epitopes, but there exist complex trade-offs between immunogenicity, mutational load, and protein structure-function. Here, a protein deimmunization algorithm has been applied to P99 beta-lactamase, a component of antibody-directed enzyme prodrug therapies. The algorithm, integer programming for immunogenic proteins, seamlessly integrates computational prediction of T cell epitopes with both 1- and 2-body sequence potentials that assess protein tolerance to epitope-deleting mutations. Compared to previously deimmunized P99 variants, which bore only one or two mutations, the enzymes designed here contain 4-5 widely distributed substitutions. As a result, they exhibit broad reductions in major histocompatibility complex recognition. Despite their high mutational loads and markedly reduced immunoreactivity, all eight engineered variants possessed wild-type or better catalytic activity. Thus, the protein design algorithm is able to disrupt broadly distributed epitopes while maintaining protein function. As a result, this computational tool may prove useful in expanding the repertoire of next-generation biotherapeutics.
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Terrazzini N, Kern F. Cell-mediated immunity to human CMV infection: a brief overview. F1000PRIME REPORTS 2014; 6:28. [PMID: 24860650 PMCID: PMC4018181 DOI: 10.12703/p6-28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The cellular immune response to human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) has different components originating from both the adaptive and innate immune systems. There is a significant global interest in understanding how the immune system keeps HCMV under control, in particular with a view to situations where HCMV infection causes severe damage. Such settings include HIV infection, transplantation, and maybe most importantly perinatal medicine, HCMV being a major cause of sometimes catastrophic birth defects. The development of an active HCMV vaccine has proven very difficult but some recent successes raise hope that this might be available in the future. However, adoptive transfer of HCMV-specific T cells has been successfully used to prevent CMV disease after bone marrow transplantation for many years. In fact, the CD8 T cell response has been thought to be the most important effector response, with numerous reports focusing on specific T cell subsets recognizing select peptides in select human leukocyte antigen (HLA) contexts. However, it is becoming increasingly clear now that other cells, first and foremost CD4 T cells, but also gamma/delta (γ/δ) T cells and natural killer cells, are critically involved in the cellular immune response to HCMV. This commentary aims to provide a brief overview of the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Terrazzini
- Pathogen Host Interaction Group (PHI), Immunology, Division of Medicine, Brighton and Sussex Medical SchoolBiology Road, Brighton, BN1 9PSUK
| | - Florian Kern
- Pathogen Host Interaction Group (PHI), Immunology, Division of Medicine, Brighton and Sussex Medical SchoolBiology Road, Brighton, BN1 9PSUK
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Kurzweil V, Tang R, Galinski M, Wang K, Zuo F, Cherukuri A, Gasser RA, Malkin E, Sifakis F, Mendel DB, Esser MT. Translational sciences approach to RSV vaccine development. Expert Rev Vaccines 2014; 12:1047-60. [PMID: 24053398 DOI: 10.1586/14760584.2013.824706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of lower respiratory tract infections in infants and the elderly. Despite its relatively low degree of antigenic variation, it causes frequent reinfection throughout life. Clinical manifestations of RSV disease and the immune response to infection differ in infants and the elderly, suggesting that vaccines designed to protect these two populations may require different attributes. Here, the authors describe the translational approach of utilizing data from epidemiology studies performed in these populations, the use of RSV diagnostics in clinical practice, lessons learned from previous vaccine clinical trials and the success of palivizumab in prevention of RSV disease in premature and high-risk infants to aid the development of safe and effective RSV vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Kurzweil
- Cell and Molecular Biology Group, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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Salvat R, Moise L, Bailey-Kellogg C, Griswold KE. A high throughput MHC II binding assay for quantitative analysis of peptide epitopes. J Vis Exp 2014. [PMID: 24686319 DOI: 10.3791/51308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Biochemical assays with recombinant human MHC II molecules can provide rapid, quantitative insights into immunogenic epitope identification, deletion, or design(1,2). Here, a peptide-MHC II binding assay is scaled to 384-well format. The scaled down protocol reduces reagent costs by 75% and is higher throughput than previously described 96-well protocols(1,3-5). Specifically, the experimental design permits robust and reproducible analysis of up to 15 peptides against one MHC II allele per 384-well ELISA plate. Using a single liquid handling robot, this method allows one researcher to analyze approximately ninety test peptides in triplicate over a range of eight concentrations and four MHC II allele types in less than 48 hr. Others working in the fields of protein deimmunization or vaccine design and development may find the protocol to be useful in facilitating their own work. In particular, the step-by-step instructions and the visual format of JoVE should allow other users to quickly and easily establish this methodology in their own labs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Leonard Moise
- Institute for Immunology and Informatics, University of Rhode Island
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Miniaturized and high-throughput assays for analysis of T-cell immunity specific for opportunistic pathogens and HIV. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2014; 21:488-95. [PMID: 24477854 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00660-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Monitoring of antigen-specific T-cell responses is valuable in numerous conditions that include infectious diseases, vaccinations, and opportunistic infections associated with acquired or congenital immune defects. A variety of assays that make use of peripheral lymphocytes to test activation markers, T-cell receptor expression, or functional responses are currently available. The last group of assays calls for large numbers of functional lymphocytes. The number of cells increases with the number of antigens to be tested. Consequently, cells may be the limiting factor, particularly in lymphopenic subjects and in children, the groups that more often require immune monitoring. We have developed immunochemical assays that measure secreted cytokines in the same wells in which peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) are cultured. This procedure lent itself to miniaturization and automation. Lymphoproliferation and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISPOT) assay have been adapted to a miniaturized format. Here we provide examples of immune profiles and describe a comparison between miniaturized assays based on cytokine secretion or proliferation. We also demonstrate that these assays are convenient for use in testing antigen specificity in established T-cell lines, in addition to analysis of PBMC. In summary, the applicabilities of miniaturization to save cells and reagents and of automation to save time and increase accuracy were demonstrated in this study using different methodological approaches valuable in the clinical immunology laboratory.
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Combining next-generation sequencing and immune assays: a novel method for identification of antigen-specific T cells. PLoS One 2013; 8:e74231. [PMID: 24069285 PMCID: PMC3778005 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0074231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2013] [Accepted: 07/28/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we combined a novel sequencing method, which can identify individual clonotypes based on their unique T cell receptor (TCR) rearrangement, with existing immune assays to characterize antigen-specific T cell responses. We validated this approach using three types of assays routinely used to measure antigen-specific responses: pentamers which enable identification of T cells bearing specific TCRs, activation marker expression following antigen stimulation and antigen-induced proliferation to identify cytomegalovirus (CMV) specific clonotypes. In one individual, 8 clonotypes were identified using a pentamer reagent derived from the CMV pp65 protein. The same 8 clonotypes were also identified following sequencing of cells that upregulated an activation marker following incubation with an identical peptide derived from pp65. These 8 and an additional 8 clonotypes were identified using a more sensitive CFSE-based proliferation assay. We found clear sequence homology among some of the clonotypes identified, and the CDR3 region in one clonotype was identical to a previously published pp65-specific clonotype sequence. Many of these CMV-specific clonotypes were present at frequencies below 10(-5) which are undetectable using standard flow-cytometric methods. These studies suggest that an immune response is comprised of a diverse set of clones, many of which are present at very low frequencies. Thus, the combination of immune assays and sequencing depicts the richness and diversity of an immune response at a level that is not possible using standard immune assays alone. The methods articulated in this work provide an enhanced understanding of T cell-mediated immune responses at the clonal level.
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Xu W, Watts DM, Costanzo MC, Tang X, Venegas LA, Jiao F, Sette A, Sidney J, Sewell AK, Wooldridge L, Makino S, Morrill JC, Peters CJ, Kan-Mitchell J. The nucleocapsid protein of Rift Valley fever virus is a potent human CD8+ T cell antigen and elicits memory responses. PLoS One 2013; 8:e59210. [PMID: 23527138 PMCID: PMC3601065 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0059210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2012] [Accepted: 02/12/2013] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
There is no licensed human vaccine currently available for Rift Valley Fever Virus (RVFV), a Category A high priority pathogen and a serious zoonotic threat. While neutralizing antibodies targeting the viral glycoproteins are protective, they appear late in the course of infection, and may not be induced in time to prevent a natural or bioterrorism-induced outbreak. Here we examined the immunogenicity of RVFV nucleocapsid (N) protein as a CD8(+) T cell antigen with the potential for inducing rapid protection after vaccination. HLA-A*0201 (A2)-restricted epitopic determinants were identified with N-specific CD8(+) T cells from eight healthy donors that were primed with dendritic cells transduced to express N, and subsequently expanded in vitro by weekly re-stimulations with monocytes pulsed with 59 15mer overlapping peptides (OLPs) across N. Two immunodominant epitopes, VT9 (VLSEWLPVT, N(121-129)) and IL9 (ILDAHSLYL, N165-173), were defined. VT9- and IL9-specific CD8(+) T cells identified by tetramer staining were cytotoxic and polyfunctional, characteristics deemed important for viral control in vivo. These peptides induced specific CD8(+) T cell responses in A2-transgenic mice, and more importantly, potent N-specific CD8(+) T cell reactivities, including VT9- and IL9-specific ones, were mounted by mice after a booster vaccination with the live attenuated RVF MP-12. Our data suggest that the RVFV N protein is a potent human T cell immunogen capable of eliciting broad, immunodominant CD8(+) T cell responses that are potentially protective. Understanding the immune responses to the nucleocapsid is central to the design of an effective RVFV vaccine irrespective of whether this viral protein is effective as a stand-alone immunogen or only in combination with other RVFV antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weidong Xu
- Department of Biological Science and Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
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Flow cytometry. Clin Immunol 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-7234-3691-1.00107-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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17
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Lymphocyte proliferation specific for recall, CMV and HIV antigens in miniaturized and automated format. J Immunol Methods 2012; 384:135-42. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2012.07.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2012] [Revised: 07/27/2012] [Accepted: 07/31/2012] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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18
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Fuhrmann S, Lachmann R, Streitz M, Hetzer R, Volk HD, Lehmkuhl H, Kern F. Cyclosporin A and tacrolimus reduce T-cell polyfunctionality but not interferon-γ responses directed at cytomegalovirus. Immunology 2012; 136:408-13. [PMID: 22533718 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2567.2012.03594.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) -specific immunity is often estimated by the number of in vitro CMV antigen-inducible interferon-γ-positive (IFN-γ(+) ) T cells. However, recent work indicates that simultaneous production of IFN-γ, tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) (referred to as 'polyfunctionality') is more relevant for anti-viral protection. Here, we compared polyfunctionality of CMV-specific T cells (pp65 and IE-1 proteins) in 23 solid-organ transplant patients and seven healthy controls by flow cytometry. The proportions of TNF-α(+) /IFN-γ(+) /IL-2 cells among the activated cells were significantly reduced in transplant patients but not the frequencies of IFN-γ(+) CD8(+) T cells. Immunosuppression reduces polyfunctionality, which reflects the increased infection risk in this patient group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Fuhrmann
- Institut für Medizinische Immunologie, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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Li Pira G, Ivaldi F, Manca F. Selective binding of CD4 and CD8 T-cells to antigen presenting cells for enrichment of CMV and HIV specific T-lymphocytes. J Immunol Methods 2012; 376:125-31. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2012.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2011] [Revised: 12/29/2011] [Accepted: 01/03/2012] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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20
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The PEDVAC trial: Preliminary data from the first therapeutic DNA vaccination in HIV-infected children. Vaccine 2011; 29:6810-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2010.12.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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21
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Valentino MD, Abdul-Alim CS, Maben ZJ, Skrombolas D, Hensley LL, Kawula TH, Dziejman M, Lord EM, Frelinger JA, Frelinger JG. A broadly applicable approach to T cell epitope identification: application to improving tumor associated epitopes and identifying epitopes in complex pathogens. J Immunol Methods 2011; 373:111-26. [PMID: 21872603 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2011.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2011] [Revised: 08/10/2011] [Accepted: 08/11/2011] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Epitopes are a hallmark of the antigen specific immune response. The identification and characterization of epitopes is essential for modern immunologic studies, from investigating cellular responses against tumors to understanding host/pathogen interactions especially in the case of bacteria with intracellular residence. Here, we have utilized a novel approach to identify T cell epitopes exploiting the exquisite ability of particulate antigens, in the form of beads, to deliver exogenous antigen to both MHC class I and class II pathways for presentation to T cell hybridomas. In the current study, we coupled this functional assay with two distinct protein expression libraries to develop a methodology for the characterization of T cell epitopes. One set of expression libraries containing single amino acid substitutions in a defined epitope sequence was interrogated to identify epitopes with enhanced T cell stimulation for a MHC class I epitope. The second expression library is comprised of the majority of open reading frames from the intracellular pathogen and potential biowarfare agent, Francisella tularensis. By automating aspects of this technology, we have been able to functionally screen and identify novel T cell epitopes within F. tularensis. We have also expanded upon these studies to generate a novel expression vector that enables immunization of recombinant protein into mice, which has been utilized to facilitate T cell epitope discovery for proteins that are critically linked to Francisella pathogenicity. This methodology should be applicable to a variety of systems and other pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Valentino
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
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22
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Abstract
Detection of human Ag-specific T cells is limited by sensitivity and blood requirements. As dendritic cells (DCs) can potently stimulate T cells, we hypothesized that their induction in PBMCs in situ could link Ag processing and presentation to Ag-specific T-cell activation. To this end, unfractionated PBMCs (fresh or frozen) or whole blood were incubated for 48 hours with protein or peptide Ag together with different DC-activating agents to rapidly and sequentially induce, pulse, and mature DCs. DC activation was therefore lined up with Ag recognition by neighboring T cells, thus telescoping the sequential steps of T-cell activation. Efficient processing of protein Ags made prior knowledge of epitopes and HLA restrictions dispensable. While reducing stimulation time, manipulation and blood requirements, in situ DC induction specifically amplified Ag-specific T-cell responses (cytokine secretion, proliferation, CD137/CD154 up-regulation, and binding of peptide-HLA multimers). IL-1β, although released by DCs, was also secreted in an Ag-specific fashion, thus providing an indirect biomarker of T-cell responses. These accelerated cocultured DC (acDC) assays offered a sensitive means with which to evaluate T-cell responses to viral and melanoma Ag vaccination, and may therefore find application for immune monitoring in viral, tumor, autoimmune, and transplantation settings.
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Afonso G, Scotto M, Renand A, Arvastsson J, Vassilieff D, Cilio CM, Mallone R. Critical parameters in blood processing for T-cell assays: Validation on ELISpot and tetramer platforms. J Immunol Methods 2010; 359:28-36. [PMID: 20641145 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2010.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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24
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High throughput T epitope mapping and vaccine development. J Biomed Biotechnol 2010; 2010:325720. [PMID: 20617148 PMCID: PMC2896667 DOI: 10.1155/2010/325720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2009] [Revised: 02/18/2010] [Accepted: 04/20/2010] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Mapping of antigenic peptide sequences from proteins of relevant pathogens recognized by T helper (Th) and by cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) is crucial for vaccine development. In fact, mapping of T-cell epitopes provides useful information for the design of peptide-based vaccines and of peptide libraries to monitor specific cellular immunity in protected individuals, patients and vaccinees. Nevertheless, epitope mapping is a challenging task. In fact, large panels of overlapping peptides need to be tested with lymphocytes to identify the sequences that induce a T-cell response. Since numerous peptide panels from antigenic proteins are to be screened, lymphocytes available from human subjects are a limiting factor. To overcome this limitation, high throughput (HTP) approaches based on miniaturization and automation of T-cell assays are needed. Here we consider the most recent applications of the HTP approach to T epitope mapping. The alternative or complementary use of in silico prediction and experimental epitope definition is discussed in the context of the recent literature. The currently used methods are described with special reference to the possibility of applying the HTP concept to make epitope mapping an easier procedure in terms of time, workload, reagents, cells and overall cost.
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Li Pira G, Ivaldi F, Moretti P, Risso M, Tripodi G, Manca F. Validation of a miniaturized assay based on IFNg secretion for assessment of specific T cell immunity. J Immunol Methods 2010; 355:68-75. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2010.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2010] [Revised: 02/22/2010] [Accepted: 02/23/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Li Pira G, Kapp M, Manca F, Einsele H. Pathogen specific T-lymphocytes for the reconstitution of the immunocompromised host. Curr Opin Immunol 2009; 21:549-56. [DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2009.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2009] [Revised: 08/24/2009] [Accepted: 08/24/2009] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Givan AL. A Flow Cytometric Assay for Quantitation of Rare Antigen-Specific T Cells: Using Cell-Tracking Dyes to Calculate Precursor Frequencies for Proliferation. Immunol Invest 2009; 36:563-80. [DOI: 10.1080/08820130701683803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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De Paoli P. Institutional shared resources and translational cancer research. J Transl Med 2009; 7:54. [PMID: 19563639 PMCID: PMC2711056 DOI: 10.1186/1479-5876-7-54] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2009] [Accepted: 06/29/2009] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The development and maintenance of adequate shared infrastructures is considered a major goal for academic centers promoting translational research programs. Among infrastructures favoring translational research, centralized facilities characterized by shared, multidisciplinary use of expensive laboratory instrumentation, or by complex computer hardware and software and/or by high professional skills are necessary to maintain or improve institutional scientific competitiveness. The success or failure of a shared resource program also depends on the choice of appropriate institutional policies and requires an effective institutional governance regarding decisions on staffing, existence and composition of advisory committees, policies and of defined mechanisms of reporting, budgeting and financial support of each resource. Shared Resources represent a widely diffused model to sustain cancer research; in fact, web sites from an impressive number of research Institutes and Universities in the U.S. contain pages dedicated to the SR that have been established in each Center, making a complete view of the situation impossible. However, a nation-wide overview of how Cancer Centers develop SR programs is available on the web site for NCI-designated Cancer Centers in the U.S., while in Europe, information is available for individual Cancer centers. This article will briefly summarize the institutional policies, the organizational needs, the characteristics, scientific aims, and future developments of SRs necessary to develop effective translational research programs in oncology. In fact, the physical build-up of SRs per se is not sufficient for the successful translation of biomedical research. Appropriate policies to improve the academic culture in collaboration, the availability of educational programs for translational investigators, the existence of administrative facilitations for translational research and an efficient organization supporting clinical trial recruitment and management represent essential tools, providing solutions to overcome existing barriers in the development of translational research in biomedical research centers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo De Paoli
- Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, IRCCS, I-33081 Aviano PN Aviano, Italy.
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Brooimans RA, Boyce CS, Popma J, Broyles DA, Gratama JW, Southwick PC, Keeney M. Analytical performance of a standardized single-platform MHC tetramer assay for the identification and enumeration of CMV-specific CD8+ T lymphocytes. Cytometry A 2008; 73:992-1000. [PMID: 18792106 DOI: 10.1002/cyto.a.20641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) multimers that identify antigen-specific T cells, coupled with flow cytometry, have made a major impact on immunological research. HLA Class I multimers detect T cells directed against viral, tumor, and transplantation antigens with exquisite sensitivity. This technique has become an important standard for the quantification of a T cell immune response. The utility of this method in multicenter studies, however, is dependant on reproducibility between laboratories. As part of a clinical study using a standardized two-tube three-color single-platform method, we monitored and characterized performance across multiple sites using tetramers against the T cell receptors (TCR) specific for MHC Class I, A*0101--VTEHDTLLY, A*0201--NLVPMVATV and B*0702--TPRVTGGGAM CMV peptides. We studied the analytical performance of this method, focusing on reducing background, maximizing signal intensity, and ensuring that sufficient cells are enumerated to provide meaningful statistics. Inter and intra-assay performance were assessed, which included inherent variability introduced by shipping, type of flow cytometer used, protocol adherence, and analytical interpretation across a range of multiple sample levels and specificities under routine laboratory testing conditions. Using the described protocol, it is possible to obtain intra- and interlab CV's of <20%, with a functional sensitivity for absolute tetramer counts of 1 cell/microL and 0.2% tetramer+ percent for A*0101, A*0201, and B*0702 alleles. The standardized single-platform MHC tetramer assay is simple, rapid, reproducible, and useful for assessing CMV-specific T cells, and will allow for reasonable comparisons of clinical evaluations across multiple centers at clinically relevant thresholds (2.0-10.0 cells/microL).
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Affiliation(s)
- Rik A Brooimans
- Department of Internal Oncology, Erasmus MC-Daniel Den Hoed Cancer Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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Gratama JW, Kern F, Manca F, Roederer M. Measuring antigen-specific immune responses, 2008 update. Cytometry A 2008; 73:971-4. [PMID: 18942721 DOI: 10.1002/cyto.a.20655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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31
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Li Pira G, Ivaldi F, Dentone C, Righi E, Del Bono V, Viscoli C, Koopman G, Manca F. Evaluation of antigen-specific T-cell responses with a miniaturized and automated method. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2008; 15:1811-8. [PMID: 18945878 PMCID: PMC2593160 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00322-08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2008] [Revised: 10/11/2008] [Accepted: 10/15/2008] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The evaluation of antigen-specific T-cell responses is helpful for both research and clinical settings. Several techniques can enumerate antigen-responsive T cells or measure their products, but they require remarkable amounts of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Since screening numerous antigens or testing samples from pediatric or lymphopenic patients is hampered in clinical practice, we refined a miniaturized, high-throughput assay for T-cell immunity. Antigens and cells in 10-microl volumes were dispensed into 1,536-well culture plates precoated with anti-gamma interferon (anti-IFN-gamma) antibodies. After being cultured, the wells were developed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for bound cytokine. Miniaturization and automation allowed quantitation of antigen-specific responses on 10(4) PBMCs. This method was applied for epitope mapping of mycobacterial antigens and was used in the clinic to evaluate T-cell immunity to relevant opportunistic pathogens by using small blood samples. A comparison with conventional methods showed similar sensitivity. Therefore, current flow cytometric methods that provide information on frequency and phenotype of specific T cells can be complemented by this assay that provides extensive information on cytokine concentrations and profiles and requires 20- to 50-fold fewer PBMCs than other analytical methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppina Li Pira
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, Advanced Biotechnology Center, Largo Benzi 10, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
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32
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Wehler TC, Karg M, Distler E, Konur A, Nonn M, Meyer RG, Huber C, Hartwig UF, Herr W. Rapid identification and sorting of viable virus-reactive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells based on antigen-triggered CD137 expression. J Immunol Methods 2008; 339:23-37. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2008.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2007] [Revised: 07/08/2008] [Accepted: 07/31/2008] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Kutscher S, Dembek CJ, Allgayer S, Heltai S, Stadlbauer B, Biswas P, Nozza S, Tambussi G, Bogner JR, Stellbrink HJ, Goebel FD, Lusso P, Tinelli M, Poli G, Erfle V, Pohla H, Malnati M, Cosma A. The intracellular detection of MIP-1beta enhances the capacity to detect IFN-gamma mediated HIV-1-specific CD8 T-cell responses in a flow cytometric setting providing a sensitive alternative to the ELISPOT. AIDS Res Ther 2008; 5:22. [PMID: 18837993 PMCID: PMC2569082 DOI: 10.1186/1742-6405-5-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2008] [Accepted: 10/06/2008] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND T-cell mediated immunity likely plays an important role in controlling HIV-1 infection and progression to AIDS. Several candidate vaccines against HIV-1 aim at stimulating cellular immune responses, either alone or together with the induction of neutralizing antibodies, and assays able to measure CD8 and CD4 T-cell responses need to be implemented. At present, the IFN-gamma-based ELISPOT assay is considered the gold standard and it is broadly preferred as primary assay for detection of antigen-specific T-cell responses in vaccine trials. However, in spite of its high sensitivity, the measurement of the sole IFN-gamma production provides limited information on the quality of the immune response. On the other hand, the introduction of polychromatic flow-cytometry-based assays such as the intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) strongly improved the capacity to detect several markers on a single cell level. RESULTS The cumulative analysis of 275 samples from 31 different HIV-1 infected individuals using an ICS staining procedure optimized by our laboratories revealed that, following antigenic stimulation, IFN-gamma producing T-cells were also producing MIP-1beta whereas T-cells characterized by the sole production of IFN-gamma were rare. Since the analysis of the combination of two functions decreases the background and the measurement of the IFN-gamma+ MIP-1beta+ T-cells was equivalent to the measurement of the total IFN-gamma+ T-cells, we adopted the IFN-gamma+ MIP-1beta+ data analysis system to evaluate IFN-gamma-based, antigen-specific T-cell responses. Comparison of our ICS assay with ELISPOT assays performed in two different experienced laboratories demonstrated that the IFN-gamma+ MIP-1beta+ data analysis system increased the sensitivity of the ICS up to levels comparable to the sensitivity of the ELISPOT assay. CONCLUSION The IFN-gamma+ MIP-1beta+ data evaluation system provides a clear advantage for the detection of low magnitude HIV-1-specific responses. These results are important to guide the choice for suitable highly sensitive immune assays and to build reagent panels able to accurately characterize the phenotype and function of responding T-cells. More importantly, the ICS assay can be used as primary assay to evaluate HIV-1-specific responses without losing sensitivity in comparison to the ELISPOT assay.
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Gratama JW, Brooimans RA, van der Holt B, Sintnicolaas K, van Doornum G, Niesters HG, Löwenberg B, Cornelissen JJ. Monitoring cytomegalovirus IE-1 and pp65-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses after allogeneic stem cell transplantation may identify patients at risk for recurrent CMV reactivations. CYTOMETRY PART B-CLINICAL CYTOMETRY 2008; 74:211-20. [PMID: 18454493 DOI: 10.1002/cyto.b.20420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
We studied the recovery of CMV-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell immunity in 52 recipients of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT). The proportions of IFN-gamma-producing CD4+ and CD8+ T cells upon in vitro activation using peptide pools representing the CMV pp65 and IE-1 proteins were assessed at multiple time points post SCT, and correlated with the occurrence of CMV reactivation. In a retrospective analysis, recurrent CMV reactivations occurred in 9 patients and were associated with low pp65-specific CD4+ T-cell and low IE-1-specific CD8(+) T-cell reactivities, whereas patients without detectable CMV reactivation (n = 30) or a single reactivation (n = 13) showed a better recovery of these immune responses. CD4+ T-cell responses to IE-1 were infrequent in most patients, whereas CD8+ T-cell responses to pp65 occurred frequently, but did not correlate with protection against (recurrent) reactivation. Prospectively, CMV-specific T-cell responses could be studied prior to 14 reactivation episodes in 8 patients. CD4+ T-cell responses to IE-1 and pp65 were positive in only 1 and 2 episodes, respectively. CD8+ T-cell responses against IE-1 were positive in 4, but against pp65 in 12 episodes, again showing that CD8+ T-cell reactivity against pp65 did not prevent CMV reactivation. Thus, monitoring of particular CMV-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses after allogeneic SCT may identify patients at risk for recurrent CMV reactivations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan W Gratama
- Department of Internal Oncology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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Kirchner A, Hoffmeister B, Cherepnev-G G, Fuhrmann S, Streitz M, Lachmann R, Bunde T, Meij P, Schönemann C, Hetzer R, Lehmkuhl HB, Volkmer-Engert R, Volk HD, Gratama JW, Kern F. Dissection of the CMV specific T-cell response is required for optimized cardiac transplant monitoring. J Med Virol 2008; 80:1604-14. [DOI: 10.1002/jmv.21229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Martinuzzi E, Scotto M, Énée E, Brezar V, Ribeil JA, van Endert P, Mallone R. Serum-free culture medium and IL-7 costimulation increase the sensitivity of ELISpot detection. J Immunol Methods 2008; 333:61-70. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2008.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2007] [Revised: 10/30/2007] [Accepted: 01/08/2008] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Optimal blood mononuclear cell isolation procedures for gamma interferon enzyme-linked immunospot testing of healthy Swedish and Tanzanian subjects. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2008; 15:585-9. [PMID: 18287577 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00161-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Determination of antigen-specific T-cell responses is an important part of vaccine assessment. High levels of recovery, viability, and functionality of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are essential for reliable assessment of cell-mediated immune responses. Here, we sought to find the cell preparation technique best suited for two clinical vaccine trial sites: Stockholm, Sweden, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Standard Ficoll-Paque gradient centrifugation, BD Vacutainer cell preparation tube (CPT), and Greiner Bio-One LeucoSep tube techniques were tested. Cell yield and viability were recorded. Gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) testing was used to assess cell functionality. No differences in mean recovery or mean viability of fresh PBMCs were observed between Ficoll-Paque gradient centrifugation and CPT techniques as used in Stockholm. In Dar es Salaam, recovery of PBMCs isolated by use of the Ficoll-Paque gradient technique was higher than that seen with CPT (1.58 +/- 0.6 versus 1.34 +/- 0.4 million cells/ml of blood [P = 0.0469]), and the viability of PBMCs processed by Ficoll-Paque gradient was higher than that seen with CPT-purified cells (95.8% +/- 2.3% versus 92.6% +/- 4.8% [P = 0.0081]). Furthermore, LeucoSep cell separation gave higher levels of yield (1.10 +/- 0.3 versus 0.92 +/- 0.3 million cells/ml of blood [P = 0.0022]) and viability (95.7% +/- 2.0% versus 93.4% +/- 3.2% [P = 0.0012]) than Ficoll-Paque cell separation. The cells purified by the different techniques at the two sites performed equally well in IFN-gamma ELISPOT assays. Both techniques generated cell preparations with excellent yield, viability, and functionality in Stockholm. In Dar es Salaam, CPT did not perform as well as Ficoll-Paque separation. In a subsequent comparison, LeucoSep performed better than Ficoll-Paque separation. Our findings emphasize the need for on-site assessment of PBMC purification techniques for optimal evaluation of cell-mediated immune responses.
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Human T cell reconstitution in DiGeorge syndrome and HIV-1 infection. Semin Immunol 2007; 19:297-309. [PMID: 18035553 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2007.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2007] [Accepted: 10/02/2007] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The thymus is essential for proper development and maintenance of a broad T cell repertoire capable of recognizing a wide-range of foreign antigens. Recent advances in multicolor flow cytometry, non-invasive imaging techniques, and molecular assessments of thymic function have enabled a more comprehensive characterization of human thymic output in clinical settings than in the past. These techniques have been particularly valuable in monitoring human T cells after therapeutic thymic grafting for complete DiGeorge syndrome and during HIV-1 infection and AIDS. By defining the degree and mechanisms of T cell reconstitution in these settings, clinical investigators and primary caregivers have been able to better diagnose, treat and care for individuals with congenital or acquired immune deficiencies associated with loss of thymic function.
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Use of whole-blood samples in in-house bulk and single-cell antigen-specific gamma interferon assays for surveillance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2007; 15:327-37. [PMID: 18032595 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00342-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Tests based on the gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) assay (IGA) are used as adjunctive tools for the diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Here we compared in-house and commercial whole-blood IGAs to identify a suitable assay for the surveillance of tuberculosis in population studies. The IGAs were selected on the basis of the ease with which they are performed and because they require a small amount of a biological sample and do not require cell purification. Since a "gold standard" for latently M. tuberculosis-infected individuals is not available, the sensitivities and the specificities of the IGAs were determined with samples from patients with clinically diagnosed active tuberculosis and in Mycobacterium bovis BCG-unvaccinated healthy controls. The in-house tests consisted of a bulk assay based on diluted whole blood and a single-cell assay based on IFN-gamma intracellular staining. The commercial assays used were the QuantiFERON-TB-Gold (Q-TB) and the Q-TB in-tube tests. When the purified protein derivative was used as the antigen, in-house whole-blood intracellular staining was found to be highly discriminatory between active tuberculosis patients and BCG-vaccinated healthy controls, whereas the other IGAs did not discriminate between the two categories of patients. When M. tuberculosis-specific antigens were used, a very strong agreement between the results of the Q-TB in-tube assay and the clinical diagnosis was observed, while the Q-TB assay, performed according to the manufacturer's instructions, showed a significantly lower performance. Intriguingly, when the test was performed with RD1 proteins instead of peptides, its sensitivity was significantly increased. The in-house assay with diluted whole blood showed an elevated sensitivity and an elevated specificity, and the results agreed with the clinical diagnosis. Considering that the in-house assay uses 1/20 of the sample compared with the amount of sample used in the commercial IGA, it appears to be particularly promising for use in pediatric studies. Overall, the different assays showed different performance characteristics that need to be considered for surveillance of tuberculosis in population studies.
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Li Pira G, Ivaldi F, Bottone L, Manca F. High throughput functional microdissection of pathogen-specific T-cell immunity using antigen and lymphocyte arrays. J Immunol Methods 2007; 326:22-32. [PMID: 17673252 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2007.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2007] [Revised: 05/28/2007] [Accepted: 06/22/2007] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The analysis of the human T-cell response specific for relevant pathogens is useful for diagnostic purposes and for research. Several methods enumerate antigen specific T-cells and measure their functions. Since screening of numerous antigens from pathogens is often needed to evaluate immunocompetence, lymphocytes, labor and cost are limiting factors. To examine pathogen-specific T-cell immunity, we have miniaturized the analysis of T-cell responses using an array approach in 384- and 1536-well plates with as few as 10 x 10(3) PBMC per well instead of the 500 x 10(3) PBMC used for current assays. Secreted cytokines were detected in the same wells used for lymphocyte cultures. The method can detect about ten CMV specific T-cells diluted into 50 x 10(3) PBMC (0.02%), and can quantify secreted cytokines. The microarray approach allowed evaluation of T-cell immunity in children with a sensitivity higher than current methods. When applied to CMV epitope mapping, the data obtained with conventional methods were confirmed. The assay could be automated, allowing high throughput processing. The assay provides quantitative information on cytokines induced by antigen stimulation and can be applied in a simplified format as a field test to monitor T-cell immunity in vaccine trials or in veterinary medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppina Li Pira
- Cellular Immunology Unit, Advanced Biotechnology Center, Largo Benzi 10, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
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Streitz M, Tesfa L, Yildirim V, Yahyazadeh A, Ulrichs T, Lenkei R, Quassem A, Liebetrau G, Nomura L, Maecker H, Volk HD, Kern F. Loss of receptor on tuberculin-reactive T-cells marks active pulmonary tuberculosis. PLoS One 2007; 2:e735. [PMID: 17710135 PMCID: PMC1936433 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0000735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2007] [Accepted: 07/18/2007] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Tuberculin-specific T-cell responses have low diagnostic specificity in BCG vaccinated populations. While subunit-antigen (e.g. ESAT-6, CFP-10) based tests are useful for diagnosing latent tuberculosis infection, there is no reliable immunological test for active pulmonary tuberculosis. Notably, all existing immunological tuberculosis-tests are based on T-cell response size, whereas the diagnostic potential of T-cell response quality has never been explored. This includes surface marker expression and functionality of mycobacterial antigen specific T-cells. Methodology/Principal Findings Flow-cytometry was used to examine over-night antigen-stimulated T-cells from tuberculosis patients and controls. Tuberculin and/or the relatively M. tuberculosis specific ESAT-6 protein were used as stimulants. A set of classic surface markers of T-cell naïve/memory differentiation was selected and IFN-γ production was used to identify T-cells recognizing these antigens. The percentage of tuberculin-specific T-helper-cells lacking the surface receptor CD27, a state associated with advanced differentiation, varied considerably between individuals (from less than 5% to more than 95%). Healthy BCG vaccinated individuals had significantly fewer CD27-negative tuberculin-reactive CD4 T-cells than patients with smear and/or culture positive pulmonary tuberculosis, discriminating these groups with high sensitivity and specificity, whereas individuals with latent tuberculosis infection exhibited levels in between. Conclusions/Significance Smear and/or culture positive pulmonary tuberculosis can be diagnosed by a rapid and reliable immunological test based on the distribution of CD27 expression on peripheral blood tuberculin specific T-cells. This test works very well even in a BCG vaccinated population. It is simple and will be of great utility in situations where sputum specimens are difficult to obtain or sputum-smear is negative. It will also help avoid unnecessary hospitalization and patient isolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathias Streitz
- Institut für Medizinische Immunologie der Charité, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lydia Tesfa
- Institut für Medizinische Immunologie der Charité, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Vedat Yildirim
- Institut für Medizinische Immunologie der Charité, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ali Yahyazadeh
- Institut für Medizinische Immunologie der Charité, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Timo Ulrichs
- Abteilung Immunologie, Max-Planck-Institut für Infektionsbiologie, Berlin, Germany
| | - Rodica Lenkei
- Capio Diagnostik AB, St Görans Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | | | - Laurel Nomura
- BD Biosciences, San Jose, California, United States of America
| | - Holden Maecker
- BD Biosciences, San Jose, California, United States of America
| | - Hans-Dieter Volk
- Institut für Medizinische Immunologie der Charité, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Florian Kern
- Institut für Medizinische Immunologie der Charité, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Division of Medicine, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, United Kingdom
- * To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail:
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Abstract
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by tissue fibrosis, obliterative microangiopathy, and immune abnormalities. The role of autoimmunity in generating the clinical and pathologic phenotype in SSc remains uncertain. Distinct subsets of antinuclear antibodies are selectively associated with unique disease manifestations but do not have a proven pathogenic role. A new class of autoantibodies recognizing cellular or extracellular matrix antigens has been recognized in SSc patients. They seem to directly activate pathways that may contribute to SSc-specific tissue and vascular damage. Data confirms that activation and polarization of T cells can contribute to a profibrotic environment. Also, activated immune effector cells can promote vascular obliterative damage through direct cytotoxic pathways targeting the endothelium or by inducing proinflammatory molecules. Technologies are emerging to accurately measure the autoantigen-specific T-cell response in SSc patients. Perturbed B-cell homeostasis has been reported in SSc. If confirmed in-vivo, these advances could lead to new disease-modifying therapeutic strategies directed at SSc-specific immune effector pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Boin
- Division of Rheumatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 5200 Eastern Avenue, Mason F. Lord Bldg. Center Tower, Suite 4100, Room 412, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
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Abstract
Vaccine-induced antibodies that interfere with viral entry are the protective correlate of most existing prophylactic vaccines. However, for highly variable viruses such as HIV-1, the ability to elicit broadly neutralizing antibody responses through vaccination has proven to be extremely difficult. The major targets for HIV-1 neutralizing antibodies are the viral envelope glycoprotein trimers on the surface of the virus that mediate receptor binding and entry. HIV-1 has evolved many mechanisms on the surface of envelope glycoproteins to evade antibody-mediated neutralization, including the masking of conserved regions by glycan, quaternary protein interactions and the presence of immunodominant variable elements. The primary challenge in the development of an HIV-1 vaccine that elicits broadly neutralizing antibodies therefore lies in the design of suitable envelope glycoprotein immunogens that circumvent these barriers. Here, we describe neutralizing determinants on the viral envelope glycoproteins that are defined by their function in receptor binding or by rare neutralizing antibodies isolated from HIV-infected individuals. We also describe the nonvariable cellular receptors involved in the HIV-1 entry process, or other cellular proteins, and ongoing studies to determine if antibodies against these proteins have efficacy as therapeutic reagents or, in some cases, as vaccine targets to interfere with HIV-1 entry.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Phogat
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Wolfl M, Kuball J, Ho WY, Nguyen H, Manley TJ, Bleakley M, Greenberg PD. Activation-induced expression of CD137 permits detection, isolation, and expansion of the full repertoire of CD8+ T cells responding to antigen without requiring knowledge of epitope specificities. Blood 2007; 110:201-10. [PMID: 17371945 PMCID: PMC1896114 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2006-11-056168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 325] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2006] [Accepted: 03/02/2007] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
CD137 is a member of the TNFR-family with costimulatory function. Here we show that it also has many favorable characteristics as a surrogate marker for antigen-specific activation of human CD8(+) T cells. Although undetectable on unstimulated CD8(+) T cells, it is uniformly up-regulated 24 hours after stimulation on virtually all responding cells regardless of differentiation stage or profile of cytokine secretion, which circumvents limitations of current surrogate markers for defining the repertoire of responding cells based on only individual functions. Antibody-labeled responding CD137(+) cells can be easily and efficiently isolated by flow sorting or magnetic beads to substantially enrich antigen-specific T cells. To test this approach for epitope discovery, we examined in vitro priming of naive T cells from healthy donors to Wilms tumor antigen 1 (WT1), a protein overexpressed in various malignancies. Two overlapping pentadecamers were identified as immunogenic, and further analysis defined WT1((286-293)) as the minimal amino acid sequence and HLA-Cw07 as the HLA restriction element. In conclusion, this approach appears to be an efficient and sensitive in vitro technique to rapidly identify and isolate antigen-specific CD8(+) T cells present at low frequencies and displaying heterogeneous functional profiles, and does not require prior knowledge of the specific epitopes recognized or the HLA-restricting elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Wolfl
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Program in Immunology, Seattle, WA, USA.
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Lugli E, Pinti M, Nasi M, Troiano L, Ferraresi R, Mussi C, Salvioli G, Patsekin V, Robinson JP, Durante C, Cocchi M, Cossarizza A. Subject classification obtained by cluster analysis and principal component analysis applied to flow cytometric data. Cytometry A 2007; 71:334-44. [PMID: 17352421 DOI: 10.1002/cyto.a.20387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Polychromatic flow cytometry (PFC) allows the simultaneous determination of multiple antigens in the same cell, resulting in the generation of a high number of subsets. As a consequence, data analysis is the main difficulty with this technology. Here we show the use of cluster analysis (CA) and principal component analyses (PCA) to simplify multicolor data visualization and to allow subjects' classification. METHODS By eight-colour cytofluorimetric analysis, we investigated the T cell compartment in donors of different age (young, middle-aged, and centenarians). T cell subsets were identified by combining positive and negative expression of antigens. The resulting data set was organized into a matrix and subjected to CA and PCA. RESULTS CA clustered people of different ages on the basis of cytofluorimetric profile. PCA of the cellular subsets identified centenarians within a different cluster from young donors, while middle-aged donors were scattered between these groups. These approaches identified T cell phenotypes that changed with increasing age. In young donors, memory T cell subsets tended to be CD127+ and CD95- whereas CD127-, CD95+ phenotypes were found at higher frequencies in people with advanced age. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest the use of bioinformatic approaches to analyze large data-sets generated by PFC and to obtain the rapid identification of key populations that best characterize a group of subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Lugli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Chair of Immunology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, via Campi 287, 41100 Modena, Italy
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Walker S, Fazou C, Crough T, Holdsworth R, Kiely P, Veale M, Bell S, Gailbraith A, McNeil K, Jones S, Khanna R. Ex vivo monitoring of human cytomegalovirus-specific CD8+ T-cell responses using QuantiFERON�-CMV. Transpl Infect Dis 2007; 9:165-70. [PMID: 17462006 DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-3062.2006.00199.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
We have developed a novel diagnostic technology to monitor the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-specific CD8+ T-cell responses that is based on the detection of secreted interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in the whole blood (referred to as QuantiFERON -CMV). Evaluation of QuantiFERON -CMV in healthy individuals revealed that this technology was at least as sensitive and with some HCMV epitopes more sensitive than the ELISPOT for detecting ex vivo IFN-gamma. Results from QuantiFERON -CMV assays showed 97% (36/37 individuals) agreement with the anti-HCMV serology test in healthy individuals. Furthermore, we also show that this technology can be used to assess HCMV-specific T-cell responses in transplant patients. This study shows that QuantiFERON -CMV is a simple, reproducible, and reliable test for the detection of IFN-gamma in response to HCMV CD8+ T-cell epitopes, and may be a valuable diagnostic test for the detection of HCMV infection and a useful clinical tool for monitoring the immune response in immunosuppressed patients during therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Walker
- Tumour Immunology Laboratory and Co-Operative Centre for Vaccine Technology, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston, Queensland, Australia
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Abstracts of the 6th Euroconference on Clinical Cell Analysis, September 14-16, 2006, Stresa, Italy. CYTOMETRY PART B-CLINICAL CYTOMETRY 2007; 72:109-52. [PMID: 17285626 DOI: 10.1002/cyto.b.20183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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49
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Li Pira G, Kern F, Gratama J, Roederer M, Manca F. Measurement of antigen specific immune responses: 2006 update. CYTOMETRY PART B-CLINICAL CYTOMETRY 2007; 72:77-85. [PMID: 17285633 DOI: 10.1002/cyto.b.20186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Measuring antigen-specific immune responses (MASIR) is essential for basic immunological research and in the clinical setting. Numerous techniques have been used and the recent years have witnessed a flourishing of flow cytometry based methods for the identification of antigen specific T cells, in addition to other methodologies. The second MASIR conference held in Santorini, Greece, from 14 to 18 June 2006 has been a forum for the discussion of methodological issues and for research or clinical applications of these techniques, as reviewed here. In addition to flow cytometry based techniques, other emerging techniques with different degrees of complexity can be applied. These novel methods are highly promising in numerous conditions to look for correlates of protection, to test responses to natural infections or to vaccination trials, to evaluate the immune status of immunocompromised patients and to monitor persistence and function of specific T cells administered as adoptive therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppina Li Pira
- Viral Immunology, Advanced Biotechnology Center, Largo Benzi 10, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
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50
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Abstract
The cornerstone of the concept of immunosurveillance in cancer should be the experimental demonstration of immune responses able to alter the course of in vivo spontaneous tumor progression. Elegant genetic manipulation of the mouse immune system has proved this tenet. In parallel, progress in understanding human T cell mediated immunity has allowed to document the existence in cancer patients of naturally acquired T cell responses to molecularly defined tumor antigens. Various attributes of cutaneous melanoma tumors, notably their adaptability to in vitro tissue culture conditions, have contributed to convert this tumor in the prototype for studies of human antitumor immune responses. As a consequence, the first human cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL)-defined tumor antigen and numerous others have been identified using lymphocyte material from patients bearing this tumor, detailed analyses of specific T cell responses have been reported and a relatively large number of clinical trials of vaccination have been performed in the last 15 years. Thus, the "melanoma model" continues to provide valuable insights to guide the development of clinically effective cancer therapies based on the recruitment of the immune system. This chapter reviews recent knowledge on human CD8 and CD4 T cell responses to melanoma antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Romero
- Division of Clinical Onco-Immunology, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
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