T. O'Neill et al., Determination of equid herpesvirus 1-specific, CD8(+), cytotoxic T lymphocyte precursor frequencies in ponies, VET IMMUNOL, 70(1-2), 1999, pp. 43-54
The frequency of antigen-specific, genetically restricted cytotoxic T lymph
ocyte precursors (CTLp) was measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells
(PBMC) of ponies before and after infection with equid herpesvirus 1 (EHV1)
. Split-well limiting dilution analysis (LDA) was developed to measure CTLp
frequency using EHV1-infected Cr-51-labelled lymphoblasts as targets. Exte
nsive characterisation showed that recombinant human interleukin-2, autolog
ous antigen presenting cells and equine serum containing virus neutralising
antibody were necessary for maturation of CTLp into effector CTL in vitro.
CTLs were not induced when the equine serum (containing VN antibody) was r
eplaced with either foetal calf serum or foetal equine serum (without VN an
tibody), or seronegative equine serum. CTLp frequency decreased significant
ly when CD8(+) lymphocytes were depleted from the induction cultures. There
was good inter- and intra-assay reproducibility using both fresh and recov
ered cryopreserved PBMC. Both EHV1 and EHV4 could be used to induce effecto
r CTL which lysed EHV1-infected target cells.
CTLp frequencies were measured in 2 groups of ponies: Group 1 consisted of
two ponies (approx. 9 years old), which had multiple previous experimental
infections with EHV1; Group 2 comprised five young (1-2 years) and two olde
r (7 years) ponies which had presumed natural exposure to EHV1/EHV4 but no
previous experimental infections. The results showed that CTLp frequencies
were higher in the ponies of Group 1 compared with the others. Moreover, po
nies with the higher CTLp frequencies were better protected against re-chal
lenge infection with EHV1, showing reduced or absent clinical and virologic
al signs. Consequently, measurement of EHV1-specific CTLp frequency is a po
tential in vitro correlate of immunity which may be useful for screening ne
w vaccines in horses before embarking upon challenge protection studies to
confirm efficacy. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.