Application of the IFN-gamma ELISPOT assay to quantify T cell responses against proteins

J Immunol Methods. 2001 Jan 1;247(1-2):17-24. doi: 10.1016/s0022-1759(00)00305-7.

Abstract

The ELISPOT assay has been established for the direct ex vivo quantification of peptide-reactive T lymphocytes from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). In this report we studied the ELISPOT assay conditions for the detection of T cell responses against protein antigens including Tetanus toxoid (TT), purified-protein-derivative (PPD) and a synthetic 30 mer peptide derived from influenza matrix protein (IMP) containing the HLA-A*0201-restricted 9 mer peptide epitope GILGFVFTL as a model for a viral protein. We found several aspects to be crucial for a sensitive detection of T cell responses against proteins including a pellet preincubation step and the monocyte concentration. Using optimized assay conditions specific CD4+ T cell responses against TT and PPD as well as CD8+ T cell responses against IMP can be quantified directly ex vivo from peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Cell Count
  • Cell Separation / methods
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / immunology
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques / methods
  • Interferon-gamma / immunology*
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / cytology
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / immunology
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Monocytes / cytology
  • Peptide Fragments / immunology*
  • Proteins / immunology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / cytology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Tetanus Toxoid / immunology*
  • Tuberculin / immunology*
  • Viral Matrix Proteins / immunology*

Substances

  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Proteins
  • Tetanus Toxoid
  • Tuberculin
  • Viral Matrix Proteins
  • influenza virus membrane protein (58-66)
  • Interferon-gamma