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Cyclosporin A and tacrolimus reduce T‐cell polyfunctionality but not interferon‐γ responses directed at cytomegalovirus
Author(s) -
Fuhrmann Stephan,
Lachmann Raskit,
Streitz Mathias,
Hetzer Roland,
Volk HansDieter,
Lehmkuhl Hans,
Kern Florian
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.297
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1365-2567
pISSN - 0019-2805
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2567.2012.03594.x
Subject(s) - immunology , cytomegalovirus , immunosuppression , interferon , flow cytometry , cd8 , tumor necrosis factor alpha , antigen , medicine , biology , virus , herpesviridae , viral disease
Summary Cytomegalovirus (CMV) ‐specific immunity is often estimated by the number of in vitro CMV antigen‐inducible interferon‐γ‐positive (IFN‐γ + ) T cells. However, recent work indicates that simultaneous production of IFN‐γ, tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and interleukin‐2 (IL‐2) (referred to as ‘polyfunctionality’) is more relevant for anti‐viral protection. Here, we compared polyfunctionality of CMV‐specific T cells (pp65 and IE‐1 proteins) in 23 solid‐organ transplant patients and seven healthy controls by flow cytometry. The proportions of TNF‐α + /IFN‐γ + /IL‐2 cells among the activated cells were significantly reduced in transplant patients but not the frequencies of IFN‐γ + CD8 + T cells. Immunosuppression reduces polyfunctionality, which reflects the increased infection risk in this patient group.