Characterization of the HCMV-specific CD4 T cell responses that are associated with protective immunity

Wunsch M, Zhang W, Hanson J, Caspell R, Karulin AY, Recks MS, Kuerten S, Sundararaman S, Lehmann PV (2015)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2015

Journal

Viruses MDPI

Book Volume: 7

Pages Range: 4414-4437

Journal Issue: 8

DOI: 10.3390/v7082828

Abstract

Most humans become infected with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). Typically, the immune system controls the infection, but the virus persists and can reactivate in states of immunodeficiency. While substantial information is available on the contribution of CD8 T cells and antibodies to anti-HCMV immunity, studies of the TH1, TH2, and TH17 subsets have been limited by the low frequency of HCMV-specific CD4 T cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC). Using the enzyme-linked Immunospot® assay (ELISPOT) that excels in low frequency measurements, we have established these in a sizable cohort of healthy HCMV controllers. Cytokine recall responses were seen in all seropositive donors. Specifically, interferon (IFN)-γ and/or interleukin (IL)-17 were seen in isolation or with IL-4 in all test subjects. IL-4 recall did not occur in isolation. While the ratios of TH1, TH2, and TH17 cells exhibited substantial variations between different individuals these ratios and the frequencies were relatively stable when tested in samples drawn up to five years apart. IFN- γ and IL-2 co-expressing polyfunctional cells were seen in most subjects. Around half of the HCMV-specific CD4 cells were in a reversible state of exhaustion. The data provided here established the TH1, TH2, and TH17 characteristic of the CD4 cells that convey immune protection for successful immune surveillance against which reactivity can be compared when the immune surveillance of HCMV fails.

Authors with CRIS profile

Stefanie Kürten

Involved external institutions

Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg DE Germany (DE) CTL Europe GmbH DE Germany (DE) Universität zu Köln DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Wunsch, M., Zhang, W., Hanson, J., Caspell, R., Karulin, A.Y., Recks, M.S.,... Lehmann, P.V. (2015). Characterization of the HCMV-specific CD4 T cell responses that are associated with protective immunity. Viruses, 7(8), 4414-4437. https://doi.org/10.3390/v7082828

MLA:

Wunsch, Marie, et al. "Characterization of the HCMV-specific CD4 T cell responses that are associated with protective immunity." Viruses 7.8 (2015): 4414-4437.

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