Comparative analysis of human cytomegalovirus-specific CD4(+) T-cell frequency and lymphoproliferative response in human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients

• Published in: Clinical and diagnostic laboratory immunology Vol. 8; no. 6; pp. 1225 - 1230
• Main Authors: Piccinini, G, Comolli, G, Genini, E, Lilleri, D, Gulminetti, R, Maccario, R, Revello, M G, Gerna, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Society for Microbiology 01-11-2001
• Subjects: Adult; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - cytology; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - virology; Cell Division - immunology; Cytomegalovirus - immunology; Cytomegalovirus Infections - immunology; Female; Flow Cytometry; HIV Infections - drug therapy; HIV Infections - immunology; HIV Seropositivity; Humans; Male; Microbial Immunology; Reproducibility of Results
• ISSN: 1071-412X; 1098-6588
• DOI: 10.1128/CDLI.8.6.1225-1230.2001

Evaluation of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-specific T-helper immunity could contribute in optimizing anti-HCMV therapy in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. Testin the lymphoproliferative response (LPR) is the standard technique used to evaluate T-helper response, but its use in the routine diagnostic laboratory setting can be problematic. The most promising new alternative technique is the determination of HCMV-specific CD4(+) T-cell frequency by flow cytometry detection of intracellular cytokine production after short-term antigen-specific activation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. HCMV-specific LPR and CD4(+) T-cell frequency were compared in a group of 78 blood samples from 65 HIV-infected patients. The results showed concordance in 80.7% of samples. In addition, comparative analysis of sequential blood samples from 13 HIV-infected patients showed that while in about half of patients the T-helper HCMV-specific immune response remained stable during highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), in the other half declining levels of the HCMV-specific CD4(+)-mediated immune response were determined by either one or both assays. In conclusion, our data suggest that the determination of HCMV-specific CD4(+) T-cell frequency can be considered a valuable alternative to the LPR test for the detection of HCMV-specific T-helper response in HIV-infected patients. It could facilitate wider screening of anti-HCMV T-helper activity in HIV-infected patients, with potential benefits for clinicians in deciding strategies of discontinuation or maintenance of anti-HCMV therapy.