Measurement of Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV)-Specific Cell-Mediated Immunity: Comparison between VZV Skin Test and Interferon-γ Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases Vol. 198; no. 9; pp. 1327 - 1333
• Main Authors: Sadaoka, Kay, Okamoto, Shigefumi, Gomi, Yasuyuki, Tanimoto, Takeshi, Toyokazu, Ishikawa, Yoshikawa, Tetsushi, Asano, Yoshizo, Yamanishi, Koichi, Mori, Yasuko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL The University of Chicago Press 01.11.2008; University of Chicago Press
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Antibodies; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Antibodies, Viral - immunology; Antigens; Biological and medical sciences; Cell mediated immunity; Chickenpox; Enzyme linked immunospot assay; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay - methods; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Herpes zoster; Herpesvirus 3, Human - immunology; Human herpesvirus 3; Humans; Immunity, Cellular - physiology; Infectious diseases; Interferon-gamma - immunology; Male; Medical sciences; Microbiology; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Skin Tests; Vaccination; Varicella zoster encephalitis; Virology; Viruses; Virus; Infection; Varicella zoster virus; Microbiology; Enzyme; Herpesviridae; Alphaherpesvirinae; Cytokine; Cellular immunity; Gamma interferon; Skin test
• ISSN: 0022-1899; 1537-6613
• DOI: 10.1086/592219

Cell-mediated immunity (CMI) is critical for the prevention and control of varicella-zoster virus (VZV)-related disease. To assess CMI to VZV, a varicella skin test and Interferon-γ enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay were both performed in healthy volunteers, and the results were compared.Atotal of 151 subjects were examined: 16 aged 20–29 years, 26 aged 30–39 years, 18 aged 40–49 years, 73 aged 50–59 years, and 18 aged 60–69 years. All were seropositive by a glycoprotein antigen-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (gpELISA). Skin test reactivity was significantly correlated with the ELISPOT count, and both decreased with increasing age, indicating an age-dependent decline in CMIto VZV. In contrast, the antibody titer obtained by the gpELISA did not correlate with skin test reactivity. The results suggest that the skin test and ELISPOT assay are both reliable for assessing CMI to VZV and can easily be applied to screen individuals susceptible to the development of herpes zoster.