T-CELL AND B-CELL RESPONSES TO CYTOMEGALOVIRUS ANTIGENS IN HEALTHY BLOOD-DONORS AND BONE-MARROW TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS

We measured the production of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) from single T cells and the T cell proliferative response to different cytomegalo virus (CMV) antigens in healthy blood donors and bone marrow transplan t recipients. The antigens consisted of a CMV nuclear antigen (CMV na) containing the pp65-kDa matrix protein and the immediate early antige ns but lacking CMV glycoproteins, and an antigen comprising native CMV glycoproteins (CMV gp). We also measured the IgG antibodies to CMV na and CMV gp. The T cells reacted to CMV na in CMV seropositive blood d onors both with the production of IFN-gamma and with proliferation, wh ile bone marrow transplant recipients had a deficient T cell response. After stimulation with CMV gp, no T cell response could be observed i n CMV seropositive subjects. IgG antibodies to CMV na coexisted in pla sma with similar levels of antibodies to CMV gp.