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- Title
Human Cytomegalovirus-Specific Memory CD4<sup>+</sup> T-Cell Response and Its Correlation With Virus Transmission to the Fetus in Pregnant Women With Primary Infection.
- Authors
Fornara, Chiara; Cassaniti, Irene; Zavattoni, Maurizio; Furione, Milena; Adzasehoun, Kodjo M. G.; Silvestri, Annalisa De; Comolli, Giuditta; Baldanti, Fausto
- Abstract
Background. Primary human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection during pregnancy is the major cause of congenital viral sequelae. The HCMV-specific T-cell response may have a role in the prevention of virus transmission to the fetus. Methods. HCMV-specific memory T cells were investigated in the second month after primary infection onset in 44 pregnant women (15 transmitting the infection to the fetus) and 8 pregnant women with remote infection. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated for 12 days with peptide pools of HCMV proteins IE-1, IE-2, and pp65, and subsequently restimulated for 24 hours with the same peptide pools in a cultured enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay. Results. In pregnant women with primary infection, the cultured ELISPOT assay detected a higher T-cell response to pp65 than to IE-1 or IE-2, whereas in remote infection pp65-, IE-1-, and IE-2-specific T cells were detected at comparable levels. During primary infection, the cultured ELISPOT response was mainly mediated by CD4+T cells, and was lower than in remote infection. Strikingly, the cultured ELISPOT response to pp65 (but not to IE-1 or IE-2) was significantly higher in nontransmitting mothers. To detect other factors potentially associated with nontransmission, different serological parameters were analyzed. Only immunoglobulin G avidity index was higher in nontransmitting mothers, who showed also a lower DNAemia level. These 2 parameters remained associated with congenital infection in multivariate analysis. Conclusions. Determination of HCMV-specific T cells by cultured ELISPOT, in pregnant women with primary HCMV infection, in association with avidity index and DNAemia may help to assess the risk of HCMV fetal transmission.
- Subjects
CYTOMEGALOVIRUS disease prevention; CYTOMEGALOVIRUS diseases; VERTICAL transmission (Communicable diseases); MULTIVARIATE analysis; T cells; FETUS; INFECTIOUS disease transmission; PREVENTION
- Publication
Clinical Infectious Diseases, 2017, Vol 65, Issue 10, p1659
- ISSN
1058-4838
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1093/cid/cix622