Flow cytometric analysis of cytomegalovirus‐specific cell‐mediated immunity in the congenital infection

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Abstract
Flow cytometric analysis of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells specific to human cytomegalovirus (CMV) was undertaken in seven patients with congenital CMV infection, six healthy infants who had acquired infection, and six CMV‐seropositive adults. Intracellular cytokine assays showed that 0.03–2.23% of CD4+ T cells in the healthy infants and adults produced interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) in response to CMV antigens. In contrast, such CD4+ T cells were almost undetectable in patients with congenital CMV infection who were younger than 2 years of age. Tetrameric major histocompatibility complex/peptide complex analysis demonstrated HLA*A2402‐restricted phosphoprotein 65‐specific CD8+ T cells to be present in most healthy infants and adults tested, but almost absent in the patients. Interestingly, CMV‐specific CD4+ T‐cell responses were observed in two patients with congenital infection beyond the age of 5 years. The present study points to impairment of CMV‐specific cellular immunity in patients in single‐cell levels with congenital CMV infection during the infant period and possible restoration in later childhood. J. Med. Virol. 71:251–258, 2003.