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Characterization of Varicella-Zoster (VZV) Specific T Cell Response in Healthy Subjects and Transplanted Patients by Using Enzyme Linked Immunospot (ELISpot) Assays

Solid organ transplant recipients, due to the administration of post-transplant immunosuppressive therapies, are at greater risk of viral reactivation episodes, mainly from herpes viruses, including varicella-zoster virus (VZV). The aim of this pilot study was to develop functional immunological ass...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Cassaniti, Irene, Ferrari, Alessandro, Comolli, Giuditta, Sarasini, Antonella, Gregorini, Marilena, Rampino, Teresa, Lilleri, Daniele, Baldanti, Fausto
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: MDPI 2021
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8402512/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34451999
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9080875
Descripción
Sumario:Solid organ transplant recipients, due to the administration of post-transplant immunosuppressive therapies, are at greater risk of viral reactivation episodes, mainly from herpes viruses, including varicella-zoster virus (VZV). The aim of this pilot study was to develop functional immunological assays (VZV-ELISpot) for the quantification and characterization of the VZV-specific effector-memory and central-memory responses in healthy subjects and transplanted patients. Glycoprotein gE and immediate-early 63 (IE-63) were used as antigens for in vitro stimulation. VZV-seropositive healthy subjects showed higher responses in respect to seronegative subjects. Even if differences were observed between VZV-seropositive healthy subjects and transplanted subjects at pre-transplant, the VZV-specific T-cell response was reduced at 60 days after transplant, mainly for the high level of immunosuppression. Phenotypical characterization revealed that response against VZV was mainly mediated by CD4 T cells. The results obtained in this study might be useful for the definition of personalized follow-up of the transplanted patients, providing useful information on the status of the patient potentially at risk of viral reactivation or other opportunistic infections.