Human cytomegalovirus-specific CD4 + and CD8 + T cell responses in primary infection of the immunocompetent and the immunocompromised host

• Published in: Clinical immunology (Orlando, Fla.) Vol. 131; no. 3; pp. 395 - 403
• Main Authors: Lilleri, Daniele, Zelini, Paola, Fornara, Chiara, Comolli, Giuditta, Revello, Maria Grazia, Gerna, Giuseppe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 01.06.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Allergy and Immunology; Biological and medical sciences; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - virology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - virology; Cytomegalovirus - immunology; Cytomegalovirus Infections - diagnosis; Cytomegalovirus Infections - immunology; Cytomegalovirus Infections - virology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Human cytomegalovirus; Humans; Immediate-Early Proteins - immunology; Immediate-Early Proteins - metabolism; Immunocompromised Host - immunology; Immunocompromised patients; Immunodeficiencies; Immunodeficiencies. Immunoglobulinopathies; Immunopathology; Immunosuppressive Agents - immunology; Interferon-gamma - biosynthesis; Interferon-gamma - immunology; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Organ Transplantation - adverse effects; Phosphoproteins - immunology; Phosphoproteins - metabolism; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - immunology; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - virology; Pregnant women; Primary infection; T-cell response; Viral Matrix Proteins - immunology; Viral Matrix Proteins - metabolism; Young Adult; Primary infection; Pregnant women; Immunocompromised patients; Human cytomegalovirus; T-cell response; Human; Immunopathology; CD4 T lymphocyte; Immune response; Herpesviridae; Betaherpesvirinae; Immune deficiency; Virus; Pregnancy; Immunology; Adult; Female; Woman; CD8 T lymphocyte
• ISSN: 1521-6616; 1521-7035; 1521-7035
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2009.02.002

The kinetics of primary human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection and specific T-cell responses were investigated in 16 immunocompetent pregnant women and 8 solid-organ transplant recipients (SOTR). T-cell responses to whole HCMV and to pp65 and IE-1 peptides were determined by flow cytometry evaluation of IFNγ production. HCMV-specific CD4 + and CD8 + T-cells appeared earlier and simultaneously in immunocompetent subjects, whereas specific CD8 + T-cells preceded CD4 + T-cells in half of the SOTR examined. The magnitude of the HCMV-specific T-cell pool was comparable. HCMV load reached peak levels 100–1000 times higher in SOTR than in immunocompetent women, while the virus persisted for months in blood of both groups. T-cells directed to pp65 and IE-1 were only detected in a portion of subjects developing a full T-cell response to the whole virus. Thus, the development of cell-mediated immune response in primary HCMV infection may be missed when looking at pp65 and IE-1 peptide-stimulated T-cells only.