A CELL MEDIATED IMMUNE RESPONSE ASSAY WITH
ENHANCED SENSITIVITY
FILING DATA
(0001] This application is associated with and claims priority from United States
Provisional Patent Application No. 61/502,81 1, filed on 29 June 201 1, entitled "A cell
mediated immune response assay with enhanced sensitivity", the entire contents of which,
are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD
[0002] This disclosure relates generally to the field of immunological-based diagnostic
assays including an assay to measure cell-mediated immunoresponsiveness. The present
disclosure teaches diagnosis of a subject's exposure to an antigen based on cell-mediated
immunoresponsiveness with enhanced sensitivity. The assay contemplated herein is
capable of integration into standard pathology architecture to provide a diagnostic
reporting system and to facilitate point of care clinical management.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Bibliographic details of the publications referred to by author in this specification
are collected alphabetically at the end of the description.
[0004] Reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an
acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that this prior art forms part of the common
general knowledge in any country.
[0005] Immunological-based diagnostic assays are important tools in detecting a variety of
disease conditions. The effectiveness of these types of assays lies in part in the specificity
of components within the immune system. Notwithstanding this specificity,
immunological-based diagnostics are not necessarily always sensitive enough to detect low
grade infection or the presence of a persistent low level infection or in subjects with active
or latent infectious disease states. There is a need to develop diagnostic assays with
enhanced sensitivity in relation to cell-mediated immunoresponsiveness.
[0006] One form of immunological-based diagnostic assay involves the stimulation of Tcells
within antigens or mitogens in either isolated cell culture or in whole blood culture
followed by the detection of effector molecules such as cytokines produced by the
stimulated T-cells (also referred to as effector T-cells). The effector molecules are
generally detected using techniques such as enzyme immunoassays, multiplex bead
analysis, ELISpot and flow cytometry. Such assays are useful for detecting diseasespecific
T-cell responses. An example of a T-cell assay is QuantiFERON (Registered
Trademark; Cellestis Limited). Another assay employs 15mer peptide antigens to
stimulate T-cells. However, peptides of this length, whilst capable of being detected by
CD4+ T-cells, are too long to be detected by CD8+ T-cells.
[0007] The ability to quickly assess cell-mediated immunity and with a high degree of
sensitivity is of clinical importance. This is particularly the case with immune system
compromised patients. A clinician needs to have an appreciation of the development of a
disease state and its effect on the host's immune system.
[0008] There is a need, however, to improve the sensitivity of assays of cell-mediated
immunoresponsiveness in a subject.
SUMMARY
[0009] Enabled herein is a method for detecting a cell-mediated immune response in a
subject, the method comprising incubating lymphocytes from the subject with peptides
derived from a protein antigen, the peptides comprising a combination of a set of peptides
each about 7 to 14 amino acids in length and a set of peptides greater than 15 amino acids
in length which encompasses all or part of the protein antigen, and then screening for
levels of effector molecules produced by activated lymphocytes.
[0010] By "about 7 to 14 amino acids" means 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 or 14 amino acids.
This is considered herein a first set of peptides. By "greater than 15 amino acids" means
from 6 to the entire length of the protein antigen including from 16 to 50 amino acids.
This is considered a second set of peptides. The present method is not to be limited to
which set of peptides is referred to as first or second. Each set comprises from at least one
peptide to a series of over lapping peptides.
[0011] The co-incubation of the 7 to 14 amino acid peptides and the greater than 15 amino
acid peptides derived from the protein antigen with the lymphocytes results in a more
sensitive assay, enabling earlier detection of lymphocyte stimulation than would otherwise
be possible. The increased sensitivity includes at least a 10% increased detection of
effector molecules compared to co-incubation with a single peptide in the 7 to 14 amino
acid range or >15 amino acid range derived from the antigen or the whole antigen itself.
The ability to increase the sensitivity of a cell-mediated immune response assay also
enables less sensitive means of detection of effector molecules. Furthermore, the
magnitude of the cell-mediated immune response detected in the assay presently disclosed
can be correlated to the disease state, progression and/or severity. Hence, the present
disclosure teaches an assay of a cell-mediate immunoresponsiveness in a subject.
[0012] Without limiting the present invention to any one theory or mode of action, the two
sets of peptides, the 7 to 14mer peptides and >15mer peptides enables detection. by both
CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells. The CD4+ T-cells recognize the >15 mer peptides and CD8+ Tcells
recognize the 7 to 4 mer peptides. These peptides may be referred to herein as
"CD4+ peptides" (> 1 mer peptides) or "CD8+ peptides" (7 to 1 mer peptides).
[0013] A method for measuring cell-mediated immune response activity in a subject is
therefore provided herein, the method comprising contacting lymphocytes from the subject
with at least two sets of peptides, a first set comprising one or more peptides of from about
7 to 14 amino acid residues in length and a second set comprising one or more peptides of
from 16 amino acids or greater which encompass all or part of a protein antigen and
measuring the presence or elevation in the level of an immune effector molecule from
immune cells wherein the presence or level of the immune effector molecule is indicative
of the level of cell-mediated responsiveness of the subject to the antigen.
[0014] Usefully, the subject is a human and the sample is undiluted whole blood.
Alternatively, the sample is whole blood which comprises from about 10% to 100% by
volume of the sample to be assayed or comprises from about 50% to 100% by volume of
the sample to be assayed or comprises from about 80% to 100% by volume of the sample
to be assayed. The sample volume may be in microliter or milliliter amounts such as from
0.51to 5ml. Conveniently, the whole blood is collected in a tube comprising heparin and
the immune effector molecule is IFN-. Generally, the immune effectors are detected with
antibodies specific for same such as using EL1SA or an ELISpot.
[0015] The subject may have an infection by a pathogenic agent selected from
Mycobacterium species such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis or tuberculosis (TB),
Staphylococcus species, Streptococcus species, Borrelia species, Escherichia coli,
Salmonella species, Clostridium species, Shigella species, Proteus species, Bacillus
species, Herpes virus, Hepatitis B or C virus and Human immune deficiency virus (HIV)
or a disease resulting therefrom.
[0016] The subject may alternatively have a disease condition selected from Celiac's
disease, autoimmune diabetes, alopecia areata, ankylosing spondylitis, antiphospholipid
syndrome, autoimmune Addison's disease multiple sclerosis, autoimmune disease of the
adrenal gland, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, autoimmune hepatitis, autoimmune
oophoritis and orchitis, Behcet's disease, bullous pemphigoid, cardiomyopathy, celiac
sprue-dermatitis, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFIDS), chronic inflammatory demyelinating,
chronic inflammatory polyneuropathy, Churg-Strauss syndrome, cicatricial pemphigoid,
crest syndrome, cold agglutinin disease, Crohn's disease, dermatitis herpetiformis, discoid
lupus, essential mixed cryoglobulinemia, fibromyalgia, glomerulonephritis, Grave's
disease, Guillain-Barre, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, idiopathic
thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP), IgA nephropathy, insulin dependent diabetes (Type I),
lichen planus, lupus, Meniere's disease, mixed connective tissue disease, multiple sclerosis,
myasthenia gravis, myocarditis, pemphigus vulgaris, pernicious anemia, polyarteritis
nodosa, polychondritis, polyglancular syndromes, polymyalgia rheumatica, polymyositis
and dermatomyositis, primary agammaglobulinemia, primary biliary cirrhosis, psoriasis,
Raynaud's phenomenon, Reiter's syndrome, rheumatic fever, rheumatoid arrthritis,
sarcoidosis, scleroderma, Sjogren's syndrome, stiff-man syndrome, systemic lupus
erythematosus, Takayasu arteritis, temporal arteritis/giant cell arteritis, ulcerative colitis,
uveitis, vasculitis, vitiligo and inflammatory bowel disease.
[0017] The subject may alternatively have a cancer selected from ABL1 protooncogene,
AIDS related cancers, acoustic neuroma, acute lymphocytic leukaemia, acute myeloid
leukaemia, adenocystic carcinoma, adrenocortical cancer, agnogenic myeloid metaplasia,
alopecia, alveolar soft-part sarcoma, anal cancer, angiosarcoma, aplastic anaemia,
astrocytoma, ataxia-telangiectasia, basal cell carcinoma (skin), bladder cancer, bone
cancers, bowel cancer, brain stem glioma, brain arid CNS tumors, breast cancer, CNS
tumors, carcinoid tumors, cervical cancer, childhood brain tumors, childhood cancer,
childhood leukaemia, childhood soft tissue sarcoma, chondrosarcoma, choriocarcinoma,
chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, chronic myeloid leukaemia, colorectal cancers, cutaneous
T-Cell lymphoma, dermatofibrosarcoma-protuberans, desmoplastic-small-round-celltumor,
ductal carcinoma, endocrine cancers, endometrial cancer, ependymoma, esophageal
cancer, Ewing's sarcoma, extra-hepatic bile duct cancer, eye cancer, eye: melanoma,
retinoblastoma, fallopian tube cancer, fanconi anemia, fibrosarcoma, gall bladder cancer,
gastric cancer, gastrointestinal cancers, gastrointestinal-carcinoid-tumor, genitourinary
cancers, germ cell tumors, gestational-trophoblastic-disease, glioma, gynaecological
cancers, hematological malignancies, hairy cell leukaemia, head and neck cancer,
hepatocellular cancer, hereditary breast cancer, histiocytosis, Hodgkin's disease, human
papillomavirus, hydatidiform mole, hypercalcemia, hypopharynx cancer, intraocular
melanoma, islet cell cancer, Kaposi's sarcoma, kidney cancer, Langerhan's-cellhistiocytosis,
laryngeal cancer, leiomyosarcoma, leukemia, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, lip
cancer, liposarcoma, liver cancer, lung cancer, lymphedema, lymphoma, Hodgkin's
lymphoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, male breast cancer, malignant-rhabdoid-tumor-ofkidney,
medulloblastoma, melanoma, merkel cell cancer, mesothelioma, metastatic cancer,
mouth cancer, multiple endocrine neoplasia, mycosis fungoides, myelodysplastic
syndromes, myeloma, myeloproliferative disorders, nasal cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer,
nephroblastoma, neuroblastoma, neurofibromatosis, nijmegen breakage syndrome, nonmelanoma
skin cancer, non-small-cell-lung-cancer-(NSCLC), ocular cancers, oesophageal
cancer, oral cavity cancer, oropharynx cancer, osteosarcoma, ostomy ovarian cancer,
pancreas cancer, paranasal cancer, parathyroid cancer, parotid gland cancer, penile cancer,
peripheral-neuroectodermal-tumors, pituitary cancer, polycythemia vera, prostate cancer,
rare-cancers-and-associated-disorders, renal cell carcinoma, retinoblastoma,
rhabdomyosarcoma, Rothmund-Thomson syndrome, salivary gland cancer, sarcoma,
schwannoma, Sezary syndrome, skin cancer, small cell lung cancer (SCLC), small
intestine cancer, soft tissue sarcoma, spinal cord tumors, squamous-cell-carcinoma-(skin),
stomach cancer, synovial sarcoma, testicular cancer, thymus cancer, thyroid cancer,
transitional-cell-cancer-(bladder), transitional-cell-cancer-(renal-pelvis-/-ureter), tropho¬
blastic cancer, urethral cancer, urinary system cancer, uroplakins, uterine sarcoma, uterus
cancer, vaginal cancer, vulva cancer, Waldenstrom's-macroglobulinemia and Wilms'
tumor.
[0018] The subject may alternatively be exposed to a protein toxicant.
[0019] In the above aspects, the antigen is a protein derived from the pathogenic agent
associated with the disease condition or cancer or is a toxicant.
[0020] A method is also provided of allowing a user to determine the status of cellmediated
immunoresponsiveness of a subject, the method including:
(a) receiving data in the form of levels or concentrations of an immune effector
molecule which, relative to a control, provide a correlation as to the state of cell-mediated
immunoresponsiveness in a subject, via a communications network, the immune effector
molecule measured after exposure of lymphocytes to at least two sets of peptides, a first set
comprising one or more peptides of from about 7 to 14 amino acid residues in length and a
second set comprising one or more peptides of from 6 amino acid residues or greater
which peptides encompass all or part of a protein antigen;
(b) processing the data via univariate or multivariate analysis to provide an
immunoresponsiveness value;
(c) determining the status of the subject in accordance with the results of the
immunoresponsiveness value in comparison with predetermined values; and
(d) transferring an indication of the status of the subject to the user via the
communications network.
[0021] In an embodiment, the tuberculosis antigen is CFP10, ESAT-6, TB7.7 or TB37.6.
In an embodiment, the subject is infected with HIV. In an embodiment, the lymphocytes
are contacted with a combination of CD4+ and CD8+ peptides.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0022] Figure 1 is a graphical representation in the form of a histogram showing mean
responses to QFN-TB or QFN-TB plus one of the three pools in all evaluable subjects (n=41).
Mean values with standard error of the mean are shown. A significant increase in the response was
observed with the addition of all of the peptide pools P< . ) [Friedman test with a Dunn's
multiple comparison test]. The QFN-TB assay contained CD4+ peptides and a pool of 10 mer
peptides (CD8+ peptides).
(0023] Figure 2 is a graphical representation of IFN-responses in a QFT-CMV assay
comprising 16 mer peptides for CMV pp65 antigen (CD4 + peptides) using a Nil tube with
no antigen CMV or 16 mer CD4+ peptides alone; and combined CMV CD4+ + CD8 +
peptide; and using mitogen as a control.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word
"comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply
the inclusion of a stated element or integer or method step or group of elements or integers
or method steps but not the exclusion of any other element or integer or method step or
group of elements or integers or method steps.
[0025] As used in the subject specification, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" include.
plural aspects unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to
"a T-cell" includes a single T-cell, as well as two or more T-cells; reference to "an antigen"
includes a single antigen, as well as two or more antigens; reference to "the disclosure"
includes single or multiple aspects taught by the present disclosure; and so forth. Aspects
taught herein are encompassed by the term "invention". All aspects of the invention are
enabled within the width of the claims. The terms "T-cells" and "T-lymphocytes" are used
interchangeably herein. An "immune cell" includes a lymphocyte such as a T-cell.
[0026] Reference to an "agent", "reagent", "molecule" and "compound" includes single
entities and combinations of two or more of such entities. A "combination" also includes
multi-part such as a two-part composition where the agents are provided separately and
used or dispensed separately or admixed together prior to dispensation. For example, a
multi-part assay pack may have a series of overlapping peptides from about 7 to 14 amino
acid residues in length and/or greater than 15 amino acid residues in length which
encompass all or part of a protein antigen against which a cell-mediated immune response
is to be measured. Hence, this aspect of the present disclosure includes agents dried and
loose or immobilized to a compartment wall or solid support in an assay pack.
[0027] The present disclosure contemplates sets of peptides. The term "set" may be
replaced by other terms such as "pool", "group", "series", "collection" and the like without
departing from the method instantly disclosed. Each set comprises at least one peptide and
includes in an embodiment a series of overlapping peptides. Hence, a first set may contain
a series of overlapping peptides of from 7 to 14 amino acid residues in length. These
peptides are recognized by CD4+ T-cells, (CD4+ peptides). A second set may contain a
series of overlapping peptides of greater than 15 amino acid residues in length. These
peptides are recognized by CD8+ T-cells (CD8+ peptides) Both sets of peptides
encompasses the entire length of or part of a protein antigen. Furthermore, the peptides do
not necessarily have to be overlapping or may overlap by a single amino acid or multiple
amino acids. The peptides includes pods of peptides which encompass from 80-100% of a
protein antigen. From "80-100%" means 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93,
94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 100%.
[0028] Reference to a series of overlapping peptides from about 7 to 14 amino acid
residues in length which encompass all or part of a protein antigen means a peptide of from
about 7 amino acid residues in length to a maximum of 14 amino acid residues which in
total span from every amino acid residues which in total span amino acid residues to up to
6 amino acid residues of a protein antigen from its N-terminal end to its C-terminal end or
part thereof. Hence, if the length of a given peptide is x amino acid residues in length
wherein x is from about 7 to 14, then the extent of overlap between two consecutive
peptides is from x-1 to x-6. In an embodiment, the overlap of each consecutive peptide is
x-1. A series of overlapping peptides of greater than 15 amino acid residues in length also
spans all or part of a protein antigen wherein each peptide is at least 6 amino acid residues
in length or up to the length of the full protein antigen. In an embodiment, a peptide of
greater than 5 amino acid residues in length is from 16 to 50 amino acids such as 16, 17,
18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41,
42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 or 50 amino acid residues. As indicated above, there is no
necessity for the peptides to overlap provided there is at least one set of one or more 7 to
14 amino acid peptides and another set of at least one >15mer peptides.
[0029] The present disclosure includes the case where each peptide in the series is the
same length (i.e. x). However, the series of peptides may comprise a mixture of X , x ,
Xj. . .Xi peptides where each of peptides is from about 7 to 14 amino acid residues in
length or greater than 15 amino acid residues in length.
[0030] Enabled herein is a method for detecting a cell-mediated immune response in a
subject, the method comprising incubating lymphocytes from the subject with at least two
sets of peptides, a first set comprising at least one peptide of from about 7 to 14 amino acid
residues in length and a second set comprising at least one peptide of from 6 amino acid
residues or greater which peptides encompass all or part of a protein antigen and then
screening for levels of effector molecules produced by activated lymphocytes.
[0031] Lymphocytes are activated by co-incubation with at least two sets of peptides, a
first set comprising at least one peptide of from about 7 to 14 amino acid residues in length
and a second set comprising at least one peptide of from 16 amino acid residues or greater
which peptides encompass all or part of a protein antigen.
[0032] The present disclosure teaches augmentation of production of effector molecules
from lymphocytes exposed to at least two sets of peptides, a first set comprising at least
one peptide of from about 7 to 14 amino acid residues in length and a second set
comprising at least one peptide of from 6 amino acid residues or greater which peptides
encompass all or part of a protein antigen. Such lymphocytes are "activated" or
"stimulated" lymphocytes. The augmentation occurs by exposing the cells to at least two
sets of peptides, a first set comprising at least one peptide of from about 7 to 4 amino acid
residues in length and a second set comprising at least one peptide of from 16 amino acid
residues or greater which peptides encompass all or part of a protein antigen. The level of
the response is greater than in the presence of whole antigen or a peptide derived from the
antigen which is less than 7 amino acids or greater than 14 amino acids. This enables a
more sensitive assay in order to assess the cell-mediated immune responsiveness of a
subject. The present disclosure, therefore, enables an assay to detect, assess or otherwise
monitor a cell-mediated response in a subject by measuring the presence or level of
effector molecules from T-cells stimulated by at least two sets of peptides, a first set
comprising at least one peptide of from about 7 to 14 amino acid residues in length and a
second set comprising at least one peptide of from 16 amino acid residues or greater which
peptides encompass all or part of a protein antigen. The assay also enables earlier
detection of cell-mediated responsiveness. In an embodiment, the assay taught therein
enhances the sensitivity of a cell-mediated assay which may enable less sensitive detection
assays to be employed. Furthermore, the extent or magnitude of the cell-mediated immune
response is proposed to be reflective or informative of the state, progression and/or
severity of a disease condition. For example, the magnitude of the response may
determine if a subject has a latent or active or acute infection or disease condition.
[0033] Conveniently, the CD4+ and/or CD8+ peptides are divided into separate pools of
peptides.
[0034] Without limiting the present invention to any one theory or mode of action, at least
two sets of peptides enables both CD4+ and CD8+ epitopes to be stimulated. The peptides
may be referred to herein as " CD4+ peptides" (>15 mer peptides) or " CD8+ peptides" (7 to
14 mer peptides).
[0035] An additional agent may also be added to the incubation mixture such as to
modulate the activity of regulatory T-cells (T-reg cells). The latter encompasses inhibiting
the suppressor function of T-reg cells. Agents which modulate T-reg cells encompassed
herein include a CD25 ligand; a sense or antisense oligonucleotide to genetic material
encoding JAK1 or TYK2; a neutralizing antibody; a CpG containing oligonucleotide; an
oligonucleotide acting as a toll-like receptor (TLR) modulating agent; and other TLR
modulating agents.
[0036] In a particular embodiment, the T-reg cells are immune response suppressor cells
the activity of which is inhibited.
[0037] A "CpG molecule" means an oligonucleotide comprising a CpG sequence or motif.
[0038] The present disclosure provides a means to determine the responsiveness of cellmediated
immunity in a subject and, in turn, teaches the determination of whether a disease
condition or an agent induces or is associated with immunosuppression. The method also
enables diagnosis of infectious diseases, pathological conditions, determination of the level
of immunocompetence and assessing of immune cell responsiveness to endogenous or
exogenous agents as well as assessing exposure to protein toxicants. The assay also
enables screening of subjects previously exposed to a particular antigen, such as an antigen
associated with a disease, infection or contaminant.
[0039] Accordingly, an aspect taught herein contemplates a method for measuring cellmediated
immune response activity in a subject, the method comprising contacting
lymphocytes from the subject with at least two sets of peptides, a first set comprising at
least one peptide of from about 7 to 14 amino acid residues in length and a second set
comprising at least one peptide of from 16 amino acid residues or greater which peptides
encompass all or part of a protein antigen and measuring the level of an immune effector
molecule produced by immune cells wherein the level of the immune effector molecule is
indicative of the level of cell-mediated immunoresponsiveness of the subject.
[0040] Another aspect contemplated herein is a method for measuring cell-mediated
immune response activity in a subject, the method comprising contacting lymphocytes
from the subject with at least two sets of peptides, a first set comprising at least one
peptide of from about 7 to 14 amino acid residues in length and a second set comprising at
least one peptide of from 6 amino acid residues or greater which peptides encompass all
or part of a protein antigen and measuring the elevation in the level of an immune effector
molecule from immune cells wherein the level of the immune effector molecule is
indicative of the level of cell-mediated responsiveness of the subject wherein the level of
responsiveness is indicative of the presence or absence or level or stage of a disease or
condition selected from the list comprising an infection by a pathogenic agent, an
autoimmune disease, a cancer, an inflammatory condition and exposure to a toxic
proteinaceous agent.
[0041] Yet another aspect enabled herein is a method for measuring cell-mediated immune
response activity in a subject, the method comprising contacting lymphocytes from the
subject with at least two sets of peptides, a first set comprising at least one peptide of from
about 7 to 14 amino acid residues in length arid a second set comprising at least one
peptide of from 6 amino acid residues or greater which peptides encompass all or part of
a protein antigen and measuring the elevation in the level of an immune effector molecule
from immune cells wherein the level of the immune effector molecule is indicative of the
level of cell-mediated responsiveness and is indicative of the presence or absence or level
or stage of a disease or condition selected from the list comprising an infection by a
pathogenic agent, an autoimmune disease, a cancer, an inflammatory condition and
exposure to a toxic proteinaceous agent.
[0042] Still another aspect taught by the present disclosure is an assay to detect the
presence, absence, level or stage of a disease or condition in a subject, the method
comprising contacting lymphocytes from the subject with at least two sets of peptides, a
first set comprising at least one peptide of from about 7 to 14 amino acid residues in length
and a second set comprising at least one peptide of from 6 amino acid residues or greater
which peptides encompass all or part of a protein antigen and measuring the elevation in
the level of an immune effector molecule from immune cells wherein the level of the
immune effector molecule is indicative of the disease or condition.
[0043] The present disclosure further contemplates a method for determining whether an
agent induces immunosuppression in a subject, the method comprising contacting
lymphocytes from the subject after exposure to the agent with at least two sets of peptides,
a first set comprising at least one peptide of from about 7 to 14 amino acid residues in
length and a second set comprising at least one peptide of from 6 amino acid residues or
greater which peptides encompass all or part of a protein antigen and measuring the
presence and level of an effector molecule from the lymphocytes wherein the level of the
effector molecule determines the level of immunosuppression induced by the agent.
[0044] In accordance with this aspect, the agent may be a medicament or an environmental
toxicant.
[0045] In an embodiment, the lymphocytes are comprised within a blood sample. In an
embodiment, the blood sample is co-stimulated with at least two sets of peptides, a first set
comprising at least one peptide of from about 7 to 14 amino acid residues in length and a
second set comprising at least one peptide of from 16 amino acid residues or greater which
peptides encompass all or part of a protein antigen.
[0046] A use is also provided for at least two sets of peptides, a first set comprising at least
one peptide of from about 7 to 14 amino acid residues in length and a second set
comprising at least one peptide of from 16 amino acid residues or greater which peptides
encompass all or part of a protein antigen in the manufacture of a diagnostic assay of cellmediated
immune responsiveness by the method of incubating lymphocytes with a limiting
amount of the agonist and detecting the presence or elevation in an effector molecule.
[0047] In another embodiment, taught herein is a method for detecting whether a disease
condition is inducing immunosuppression in a subject the method comprising contacting
lymphocytes from the subject with a disease condition with at least two sets of peptides, a
first set comprising at least one peptide of from about 7 to 14 amino acid residues in length
and a second set comprising at least one peptide of from 16 amino acid residues or greater
which peptides encompass all or part of a protein antigen and measuring the presence or
level of an immune effector molecule from the lymphocytes wherein the level of the
immune effector molecule is indicative of the extent of immunosuppression induced or
associated with the disease condition.
[0048] A use is also provided for at least two sets of peptides, a first set comprising at least
one peptide of from about 7 to 14 amino acid residues in length and a second set
comprising at least one peptide of from 6 amino acid residues or greater which peptides
encompass all or part of a protein antigen in the manufacture of a diagnostic assay of cellmediated
immune responsiveness. Generally, the method comprising incubating
lymphocytes with at least two sets of peptides, a first set comprising at least one peptide of
from about 7 to 14 amino acid residues in length and a second set comprising at least one
peptide of from 6 amino acid residues or greater which peptides encompass all or part of
a protein antigen.
[0049] This use includes the use for detecting or monitoring the presence, absence, level or
stage of a disease or condition such as an infection by a pathogenic agent, an autoimmune
disease, a cancer, an inflammatory condition and/or exposure to a medicament or a toxic
proteinaceous agent such as an environmental toxicant. Measuring "an immune effector
molecule" includes measuring one or more different types of molecules.
[0050] The present disclosure further enables a method for measuring cell-mediated
immune response activity in a subject, the method comprising contacting a regulatory Tcell
from the subject with an agent selected from (i) an inhibitor of suppressor regulatory
T-cells; and (ii) an activator of immune augmenting cells or a subset thereof; and further
contacting T-cells with at least two sets of peptides, a first set comprising at least one
peptide of from about 7 to 14 amino acid residues in length and a second set comprising at
least one peptide of from 16 amino acid residues or greater which peptides encompass all
or part of a protein antigen and measuring the elevation in the level of an immune effector
molecule from immune cells wherein the level of the immune effector molecule is
indicative of the level of cell-mediated responsiveness of the subject.
[0051] Examples of inhibitors or modulators of T-reg function include CD25 ligands such
as but not limited to a polyclonal or monoclonal antibody to CD25 or an antigen-binding
fragment thereof, humanized or deimmunized polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies to
CD25 or a recombinant or synthetic form of the polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies.
Other examples of agents include sense or antisense nucleic and molecules directed to the
mRNA or DNA (i.e. genetic material) encoding Janus Tyrosine Kinase 1 (JAK1) or
Tyrosine Kinase 2 (TYK2) or small molecule inhibitors of JAK1 or TYK2 proteins.
Reference to "small molecules" includes immunoglobulin new antigen receptors (IgNARs)
as described in International Patent Publication No. WO 2005/1 18629. Yet still further
examples of suitable agents stimulating agents such as CpG molecules which act via Toll
like receptors (TLRs) and/or other mechanisms. Hence, CpG containing oligonucleotides
and an oligonucleotide acting as a TLR modulating agent also form part of the present
disclosure.
[0052] A single type of agent may be used or two or more types of agents may be
employed to modulate T-reg cells. For example, the assay may be conducted with a CD25
ligand and a JAK1/TYK2 sense or antisense oligonucleotide; a CD25 ligand and a TLR
modulating agent; a JAK1/TYK2 sense or antisense oligonucleotide and a TLR modulating
agent; or a CD25 ligand, a JAK1/TYK2 sense or antisense oligonucleotide and a TLR
modulating agent. Alternatively, just one type of agent is employed. In another alternative,
a CpG comprising oligonucleotide and a TLR modulating agent is used.
[0053] Reference to a "subject" includes a human or non-human species including
primates, livestock animals (e.g. sheep, cows, pigs, horses, donkey, goats), laboratory test
animals (e.g. mice, rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters), companion animals (e.g. dogs,
cats), avian species (e.g. poultry birds, aviary birds), reptiles and amphibians. The present
subject matter has applicability in human medicine as well as having livestock and
veterinary and wild-life applications which includes the horse, dog and camel racing
industries. For example, the assay of the present disclosure may be routinely carried out
on horses before and/or after heavy exertion (such as a race) to screen for evidence of
exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH). All horses exhibit some form of EIPH to
some degree during exercise. However, sub-clinical forms of EIPH can be hard to detect.
[0054] Reference to a "human" includes particular populations of humans such as
pediatric, elderly and infirmed populations of humans as well as particular cohorts or
populations of humans of a particular ethnicity.
[0055] In another embodiment, the subject is a human and the cell-mediated immune
response assay is used in screening for responsiveness to pathogenic microorganisms,
viruses and parasites, potential for development or monitoring autoimmune conditions,
Celiac's disease, monitoring a subject's response to oncological challenge and for
determining the presence of any immunodeficiency or immunosuppression. The latter may
occur, for example, due to certain medicaments including various chemotherapeutic
agents. Alternatively, exposure to environmental proteinaceous toxicants and pollutants.
[0056] The immune effector molecules may be any of a range of molecules which are
produced in response to cell activation or stimulation by an antigen. Although an interferon
(IFN) such as IFN-is a particularly useful immune effector molecule, others include a
range of cytokines such as interleukins (IL), e.g. IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-6 (CXCL8), IL-10,
IL-12, IL-13, IL-16 (LCF) or IL-17, IL-la (IL-1F1), IL- (IL-1F2), IL- l r (IL-1F3),
Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-a), Transforming Growth Factor beta (TGF-), a
Colony Stimulating Factor (CSF) such as Granulocyte (G)-CSF or Granulocyte
Macrophage (GM)-CSF, complement component 5a (C5a), Groa (CXCL1), sICAM-1
(CD54), IP-10 (CXCL10), I-TAC (CXCL1 1), MCP-1 (CCL2), MIF (GIF), MIP-la
(CCL3), -(CCL4), RANTES (CCL5) or MIG (CXCL9).
[0057] The present disclosure also enables a method for measuring cell-mediated immune
response activity in a subject, the method comprising contacting lymphocytes from the
subject with at least two sets of peptides, a first set comprising at least one peptide of fro
about 7 to 14 amino acid residues in length and a second set comprising at least one
peptide of from 16 amino acid residues or greater which peptides encompass all or part of
a protein antigen and measuring the level of an immune effector molecule from immune
cells wherein the level of the immune effector molecule is indicative of the level of cellmediated
responsiveness of the subject.
[0058] The assay taught herein enables detection of the presence or absence or level or
stage of a disease or condition in a subject such as infection by a pathogenic agent, an
autoimmune disease, cancer, exposure to an inflammatory agent exposure to a
medicament, exposure to a toxic proteinaceous agent and immunodeficiency or
immunosuppression such as induced by a disease condition.
[0059] In an embodiment, the sample collected from the subject is generally deposited into
a blood collection tube. A blood collection tube includes a blood draw tube or other
similar vessel. Conveniently, when the sample is whole blood, the blood collection tube is
heparinized. Alternatively, heparin is added to the tube after the blood is collected.
Notwithstanding that whole blood is particularly contemplated and a most convenient
sample, the present disclosure extends to other samples containing immune cells such as
lymph fluid, cerebral fluid, tissue fluid and respiratory fluid including nasal and pulmonary
fluid as well as samples having undergone cell depletion. Reference to "whole blood"
includes whole blood which has not been diluted such as with tissue culture, medium,
reagents, excipients, etc. In one embodiment, the term "whole blood" includes an assay
sample (i.e. reaction mixture) comprising at least 10% by volume whole blood. The term
"at least 10% by volume" includes blood volumes of 10, 1 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19,
20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43,
44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67,
68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91,
92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 and 100% by volume of total assay volume of the reaction
mixture. Additional agents may be added such as culture media, enzymes, excipients
antigen and the like without departing from the sample comprising "whole blood".
[0060] Blood volumes may be from about 0.51to 200ml. Examples include 0.51, 1, 51,
, 201, 501, , 5001, 1ml, 5ml, 10ml, and 20ml. The present disclosure also
enables the use of acoustic microstreaming to improve the mixing of components in the
assay. Acoustic microstreaming is disclosed in International Patent Application No.
PCT/AU0 1/00420 and in Petkovic-Duran et a (2009) Biotechniques 47:827-834.
[0061] Hence, contemplated herein is a method of mixing one or more lymphocytes and at
least two sets of peptides, a first set comprising at least one peptide of from about 7 to 14
amino acid residues in length and a second set comprising at least one peptide of from 6
amino acid residues or greater which peptides encompass all or part of a protein antigen in
a vessel, the method comprising providing from about 0.51to 1501of fluid comprising
the components in the vessel so as to establish a discontinuity in acoustic impedance and
applying an acoustic signal to cause mixing within the fluid. A second acoustic signal may
also be applied, the first and second signals having respective frequencies each selected
from about lHz to about 20,000Hz in an alternating manner to effect chaotic mixing within
the fluid.
[0062] The use of blood collection tubes is compatible with standard automated laboratory
systems and these are amenable to analysis in large-scale and random access sampling.
Blood collection tubes also minimize handling costs and reduce laboratory exposure to
whole blood and plasma and, hence, reduce the risk of laboratory personnel from
contracting a pathogenic agent such as HIV or Hepatitis B virus (HBV) or Hepatitis C
virus (HCV).
[0063] Combining the incubation step with the collection tube is particularly efficacious
and enhances the sensitivity of the assay as does the optional feature of incubating the cells
in the presence of a simple sugar such as dextrose or glucose.
[0064] The cells of the cell-mediated immune system lose the capacity to mount an
immune response in whole blood after extended periods following blood draw from the
subject, and responses without intervention are often severely reduced or absent 24 hours
following blood draw. The reduction of labor and need for specialized plasticware allows
cell-mediated immune stimulation with the peptide antigens to be performed at the point of
care locations such as physicians' offices, clinics, outpatient facilities and veterinary
clinics or on farms. Once antigen stimulation is complete, the requirement for fresh and
active cells no longer exists. IFN-and other cytokines or immune effector molecules are
stable in plasma and, thus, the sample can be stored, or shipped without special conditions
or rapid time requirements.
[0065] The incubation step may be from 1 to 50 hours, such as 1 to 40 hours or 8 to 24
hours or a time period in between including 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,
16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39,
40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 or 50 hours. A period of 24 hours is particularly
convenient.
[0066] The ability to measure cell-mediated immunity is important for assessing a
subject's ability to respond to an infection by a pathogenic agent such as a microorganism
or virus or parasite, to mount an autoimmune response such as in autoimmune diabetes or
to protect against cancers or other oncological conditions or to detect an inflammatory
condition or to detect exposure or sensitivity of a subject to a toxic agent such as
beryllium. The assay described herein also enables detection of disease conditions which
lead to immunosuppression or immunosuppresion induced by medicaments Consequently,
reference to "measuring a cell-mediated immune response in a subject" includes and
encompasses immune diagnosis of infectious and autoimmune diseases, a marker for
immunocompetence as well as a marker for inflammatory diseases, cancer and toxic
agents. Importantly, the combined innate and/or adaptive immune responsiveness is
determined. Furthermore, the ability to use small blood volumes enables assays to be
readily conducted on, for example, the pediatric, elderly and infirmed populations. The
assay herein enables early detection or more sensitive detection of immunoresponsiveness.
[0067] In an embodiment, disease conditions leading to immunosuppression include
chronic infection and cancer. Medicaments which can lead to immunosuppression include
those used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, cancer and inflammatory bowel disease.
[0068] Pathogenic or infectious agents include bacteria, parasites and viruses. Examples of
bacteria include Gram positive and Gram negative microorganisms such as Mycobacterium
species, Staphylococcus species, Streptococcus species, Escherichia coli, Salmonella
species, Clostridium species, Shigella species, Proteus species, Bacillus species,
Hemophilus species, Borrelia species amongst others. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a
particularly useful target as well as conditions arising from infection by M. tuberculosis
such as tuberculosis (TB). Examples of viruses include Hepatitis virus (Hepatitis B virus
and Hepatitis C virus), Herpes virus and Human immune deficiency virus (HIV) as well as
diseases resulting therefrom. Parasites include Plasmodium species, ringworm, liver
parasites and the like. Other pathogenic agents include eukaryotic cells such as yeasts and
fungi.
[0069] In an embodiment, the tuberculosis antigen is CFP10, ESAT-6, TB7.7 or TB37.6.
In an embodiment, the subject is infected with HIV.
[0070] The present invention is particularly useful for screening for exposure to M.
tuberculosis. Hence, the present disclosure teaches a method for measuring cell-mediated
immune response activity in a subject, the method comprising contacting lymphocytes
from the subject with at least two sets of peptides, a first set comprising at least one
peptide of from about 7 to 14 amino acid residues in length and a second set comprising at
least one peptide of from amino acid residues or greater which peptides encompass all
or part of a protein antigen, wherein the antigen is selected from CFP10, ESAT-6, TB7.7
and TB37.6 from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and measuring the level of an immune
effector molecule produced by immune cells wherein the level of the immune effector
molecule is indicative of the level of cell-mediated immunoresponsiveness of the subject to
M. tuberculosis.
[0071] CFP10 is also known as ESAT-6-like protein eesxB and secreted antigenic protein
MTSA-10. ESAT-6 is a six kDa early secretary antigenic target of M. tuberculosis. Other
suitable target protein antigens for M. tuberculosis include TB7.7 and TB37.6.
[0072] Autoimmune diseases contemplated herein for detection include inter alia alopecia
areata, ankylosing spondylitis, antiphospholipid syndrome, autoimmune Addison's disease
multiple sclerosis, autoimmune disease of the adrenal gland, autoimmune hemolytic
anemia, autoimmune hepatitis, autoimmune oophoritis and orchitis, Behcet's disease,
bullous pemphigoid, cardiomyopathy, celiac sprue-dermatitis, chronic fatigue syndrome
(CFIDS), chronic inflammatory demyelinating, chronic inflammatory polyneuropathy,
Churg-Strauss syndrome, cicatricial pemphigoid, crest syndrome, cold agglutinin disease,
Crohn's disease, dermatitis herpetiformis, discoid lupus, essential mixed cryoglobulinemia,
fibromyalgia, glomerulonephritis, Grave's disease, Guillain-Barre, Hashimoto's thyroiditis,
idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP), IgA
nephropathy, insulin dependent diabetes (Type I), lichen planus, lupus, Meniere's disease,
mixed connective tissue disease, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, myocarditis,
pemphigus vulgaris, pernicious anemia, polyarteritis nodosa, polychondritis, polyglancular
syndromes, polymyalgia rheumatica, polymyositis and dermatomyositis, primary
agammaglobulinemia, primary biliary cirrhosis, psoriasis, Raynaud's phenomenon, Reiter's
syndrome, rheumatic fever, rheumatoid arrthritis, sarcoidosis, scleroderma, Sjogren's
syndrome, stiff-man syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, Takayasu arteritis, temporal
arteritis/gianT-cell arteritis, ulcerative colitis, uveitis, vasculitis and vitiligo.
[0073] It is generally important to assess the potential or actual cell-mediated
responsiveness in subjects exposed to these infectious entities. The method of the present
disclosure can also be used to detect the presence or absence of these conditions as well as
the level or stage of disease process.
[0074] Other disease conditions which can lead to immunosuppression include
inflammatory disease conditions.
[0075] Examples of inflammatory disease conditions contemplated by the present
disclosure include but are not limited to those disease and disorders which result in a
response of redness, swelling, pain, and a feeling of heat in certain areas that is meant to
protect tissues affected by injury or disease. Inflammatory diseases which can be treated
using the methods of the present disclosure include, without being limited to, acne, angina,
arthritis, aspiration pneumonia, disease, empyema, gastroenteritis, inflammation, intestinal
flu, NEC, necrotizing enterocolitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, pharyngitis, PID,
pleurisy, raw throat, redness, rubor, sore throat, stomach flu and urinary tract infections,
chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, chronic inflammatory demyelinating
polyradiculoneuropathy, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, chronic
inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy. In terms of non-human applications,.
the present disclosure extends to detecting EIPH in horses and various conditions in
animals such as facial tumor disease in the Tasmanian Devil.
[0076] Cancer therapy also is somewhat dependent on cell-mediated immunity and the
cancer itself or .drugs used to treat cancer can lead to immunosuppression. Cancers
contemplated herein include: a group of diseases and disorders that are characterized by
uncontrolled cellular growth (e.g. formation of tumor) without any differentiation of those
cells into specialized and different cells. Such diseases and disorders include ABL1
protooncogene, AIDS related cancers, acoustic neuroma, acute lymphocytic leukaemia,
acute myeloid leukaemia, adenocystic carcinoma, adrenocortical cancer, agnogenic
myeloid metaplasia, alopecia, alveolar soft-part sarcoma, anal cancer, angiosarcoma,
aplastic anaemia, astrocytoma, ataxia-telangiectasia, basal cell carcinoma (skin), bladder
cancer, bone cancers, bowel cancer, brain stem glioma, brain and CNS tumors, breast
cancer, CNS tumors, carcinoid tumors, cervical cancer, childhood brain tumors, childhood
cancer, childhood leukaemia, childhood soft tissue sarcoma, chondrosarcoma,
choriocarcinoma, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, chronic myeloid leukaemia, colorectal
cancers, cutaneous T-Cell lymphoma, dermatofibrosarcoma-protuberans, desmoplasticsmall-
round-cell-tumor, ductal carcinoma, endocrine cancers, endometrial cancer,
ependymoma, esophageal cancer, Ewing's sarcoma, extra-hepatic bile duct cancer, eye
cancer, eye: melanoma, retinoblastoma, fallopian tube cancer, fanconi anemia,
fibrosarcoma, gall bladder cancer, gastric cancer, gastrointestinal cancers, gastrointestinalcarcinoid-
tumor, genitourinary cancers, germ cell tumors, gestational-trophoblasticdisease,
glioma, gynaecological cancers, hematological malignancies, hairy cell leukaemia,
head and neck cancer, hepatocellular cancer, hereditary breast cancer, histiocytosis,
Hodgkin's disease, human papillomavirus, hydatidiform mole, hypercalcemia,
hypopharynx cancer, intraocular melanoma, islet cell cancer, Kaposi's sarcoma, kidney
cancer, Langerhan's-cell-histiocytosis, laryngeal cancer, leiomyosarcoma, leukemia, Li-
Fraumeni syndrome, lip cancer, liposarcoma, liver cancer, lung cancer, lymphedema,
lymphoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, male breast cancer,
malignant-rhabdoid-tumor-of-kidney, medulloblastoma, melanoma, merkel cell cancer,
mesothelioma, metastatic cancer, mouth cancer, multiple endocrine neoplasia, mycosis
fungoides, myelodysplastic syndromes, myeloma, myeloproliferative disorders, nasal
cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, nephroblastoma, neuroblastoma, neurofibromatosis,
nijmegen breakage syndrome, non-melanoma skin cancer, non-small-cell-lung-cancer-
(NSCLC), ocular cancers, oesophageal cancer, oral cavity cancer, oropharynx cancer,
osteosarcoma, ostomy ovarian cancer, pancreas cancer, paranasal cancer, parathyroid
cancer, parotid gland cancer, penile cancer, peripheral-neuroectodermal-tumors, pituitary
cancer, polycythemia vera, prostate cancer, rare-cancers-and-associated-disorders, renal
cell carcinoma, retinoblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, Rothmund-Thomson syndrome,
salivary gland cancer, sarcoma, schwannoma, Sezary syndrome, skin cancer, small cell
lung cancer (SCLC), small intestine cancer, soft tissue sarcoma, spinal cord tumors,
squamous-cell-carcinoma-(skin), stomach cancer, synovial sarcoma, testicular cancer,
thymus cancer, thyroid cancer, transitional-cell-cancer-(bladder), transitional-cell-cancer-
(renal-pelvis-/-ureter), trophoblastic cancer, urethral cancer, urinary system cancer,
uroplakins, uterine sarcoma, uterus cancer, vaginal cancer, vulva cancer, Waldenstrom' smacroglobulinemia
and Wilms' tumor.
[0077] In the above aspects, the antigen may be derived from the pathogenic agent, be
associated with the disease condition or cancer or be the toxicant. Alternatively, the
infection, disease condition, cancer or toxicant may suppress cell-mediated immunity in
which case any antigen to which the subject has been prior exposed could be employed.
[0078] The detection of the immune effector molecules may be measured at the protein or
nucleic acid levels. Consequently, reference to "presence or level" of the immune effector
molecule includes direct and indirect data. For example, high levels of cytokine mRNA are
indirect data showing increased levels of the cytokine.
[0079] Ligands to the immune effectors are particularly useful in detecting and/or
quantitating these molecules. Antibodies to the immune effectors are particularly useful.
Techniques for the assays contemplated herein are known in the art and include, for
example, radioimmunoassay, sandwich assays, ELISA and ELISpot. Reference to
"antibodies" includes parts of antibodies, mammalianized (e.g. humanized) antibodies,
deimmunized antibodies, recombinant or synthetic antibodies and hybrid and single chain
antibodies. For skin tests, in humans, humanized or deimmunized antibodies are
particularly contemplated herein to detect effector molecules.
[0080] Both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies are obtainable by immunization with
the immune effector molecules or antigenic fragments thereof and either type is utilizable
for immunoassays. Methods of obtaining both types of sera are well known in the art.
Polyclonal sera are less preferred but are relatively easily prepared by injection of a
suitable laboratory animal with an effective amount of the immune effector, or antigenic
part thereof, collecting serum from the animal and isolating specific sera by any of the
known immunoadsorbent techniques. Although antibodies produced by this method are
utilizable in virtually any type of immunoassay, they are generally less favoured because
of the potential heterogeneity of the product.
[0081] The use of monoclonal antibodies in an immunoassay is particularly useful because
of the ability to produce them in large quantities and the homogeneity of the product. The
preparation of hybridoma cell lines for monoclonal antibody production derived by fusing
an immortal cell line and lymphocytes sensitized against the immunogenic preparation can
be done by techniques which are well known to those who are skilled in the art.
[0082] Another aspect enabled herein, therefore, is a method for detecting an immune
effector molecule in a sample comprising lymphocytes from a subject, the method
comprising contacting the sample or an aliquot of the sample with an antibody specific for
the immune effector molecule or an antigenic fragment thereof for a time and under
conditions sufficient for an antibody-effector complex to form, and then detecting the
complex wherein the immune effector molecule is generated after incubation of the
lymphocytes with at least two sets of peptides, a first set comprising at least one peptide of
from about 7 to 14 amino acid residues in length and a second set comprising at least one
peptide of from 16 amino acid residues or greater which peptides encompass all or part of
a protein antigen.
[0083] A "sample" includes whole blood or a fraction thereof comprising lymphocytes.
This method includes micro-arrays, macro-arrays and nano-arrays on planar or spherical
solid supports. A micro- or macro-array is useful. A "sample" also includes a small
volume sample of from about 0.51to including 51, , 201, 501and as
well as larger volumes such as from 1 l to about 200ml such as 1ml, 2ml, 5ml, 10ml or
20ml.
[0084] A wide range of immunoassay techniques are available as can be seen by reference
to U.S. Patent Nos. 4,016,043, 4,424,279 and 4,018,653.
[0085] The following is a description of one type of assay. An unlabeled antibody is
immobilized on a solid substrate and the sample to be tested for the immune effector
molecules (e.g. a cytokine) brought into contact with the bound molecule. After a suitable
period of incubation, for a period of time sufficient to allow formation of an antibodyimmune
effector molecule complex, a second antibody specific to the effector molecule,
labeled with a reporter molecule capable of producing a detectable signal, is then added
and incubated, allowing time sufficient for the formation of another complex of antibodyeffector-
labeled antibody. Any unreacted material is washed away, and the presence of the
effector molecule is determined by observation of a signal produced by the reporter
molecule. The results may either be qualitative, by simple observation of the visible
signal, or may be quantitated by comparing with a control sample containing known
amounts of antigen. This generalized technique is well known to those skilled in the art as
would be any of a number of variations.
[0086] In these assays, a first antibody having specificity for the instant immune effectors
is either covalently or passively bound to a solid surface. The solid surface is typically
glass or a polymer, the most commonly used polymers being cellulose, polyacrylamide,
nylon, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride or polypropylene. The solid supports may be in the
form of tubes, beads, spheres, discs of microplates, or any other surface suitable for
conducting an immunoassay: The binding processes are well known in the art and
generally consist of cross-linking covalently binding or physically adsorbing, the polymerantibody
complex is washed in preparation for the test sample. An aliquot of the sample to
be tested is then added to the solid phase complex and incubated for a period of time
sufficient (e.g. 2-120 minutes or where more convenient, overnight) and under suitable
conditions (e.g. for about 20°C to about 40°C) to allow binding of any subunit present in
the antibody. Following the incubation period, the antibody subunit solid phase is washed
and dried and incubated with a second antibody specific for a portion of the effector
molecule. The second antibody is linked to a reporter molecule which is used to indicate
the binding of the second antibody to the effector molecule.
[0087] There are many variations to this assay. One particularly useful variation is a
simultaneous assay where all or many of the components are admixed substantially
simultaneously. Furthermore, binding of an antibody to a cytokine may be determined by
binding of a labeled antibody directed to the first mentioned antibody.
[0088] By "reporter molecule" as used in the present specification, is meant a molecule
which, by its chemical nature, provides an analytically identifiable signal which allows the
detection of antigen-bound antibody. Detection may be either qualitative or quantitative.
The most commonly used reporter molecules in this type of assay are either enzymes,
fluorophores or radionuclide containing molecules (i.e. radioisotopes) and
chemiluminescent molecules. Examples of suitable fluorophores are provided in Table 1.
In the case of an enzyme immunoassay, an enzyme is conjugated to the second antibody,
generally by means of glutaraldehyde or periodate. As will be readily recognized, however,
a wide variety of different conjugation techniques exist, which are readily available to the
skilled artisan. Commonly used enzymes include horseradish peroxidase, glucose oxidase,
beta-galactosidase and alkaline phosphatase, amongst others. The substrates to be used
with the specific enzymes are generally chosen for the production, upon hydrolysis by the
corresponding enzyme, of a detectable color change. Examples of suitable enzymes
include alkaline phosphatase and peroxidase. It is also possible to employ fluorogenic
substrates, which yield a fluorescent product rather than the chromogenic substrates noted
above. In all cases, the enzyme-labeled antibody is added to the first antibody-antigen
complex, allowed to bind, and then the excess reagent is washed away. A solution
containing the appropriate substrate is then added to the complex of ahtibody-antigenantibody.
The substrate will react with the enzyme linked to the second antibody, giving a
qualitative visual signal, which may be further quantitated, usually spectrophotometrically,
to give an indication of the amount of antigen which was present in the sample. Again, the
present disclosure extends to a substantially simultaneous assay.
[0089] Alternately, fluorescent compounds, such as fluorescein and rhodamine, may be
chemically coupled to antibodies without altering their binding capacity. When activated
by illumination with light of a particular wavelength, the fluorochrome-labeled antibody
adsorbs the light energy, inducing a state to excitability in the molecule, followed by
emission of the light at a characteristic color visually detectable with a light microscope.
The fluorescent labeled antibody is allowed to bind to the first antibody-antigen complex.
After washing off the unbound reagent, the remaining tertiary complex is then exposed to
the light of the appropriate wavelength the fluorescence observed indicates the presence of
the antigen of interest. Immunofluorescene and enzyme immunoassay techniques are both
very well established in the art and are particularly preferred for the present method.
However, other reporter molecules, such as radioisotope, chemiluminescent or
bioluminescent molecules, may also be employed.
[0090] There are a range of other detection systems which may be employed including
colloidal gold and all such detection systems are encompassed by the present disclosure.
[0091] The present disclosure also contemplates genetic assays such as involving PCR
analysis to detect RNA expression products of a genetic sequence encoding an immune
effector.
[0092] In one embodiment, PCR is conducted using pairs of primers, one or both of which
are generally labeled with the same or a different reporter molecule capable of giving a
distinguishable signal. The use of fluorophores is particularly useful in the practice of the
present disclosure. Examples of suitable fluorophores may be selected from the list given
in Table . Other labels include luminescence and phosphorescence as well as infrared
dyes. These dyes or fluorophores may also be used as reporter molecules for antibodies.
Table 1
List of suitablefluorophores
Ex: Peak excitation wavelength (nm)
Em: Peak emission wavelength (nm)
[0093] Any suitable method of analyzing fluorescence emission is encompassed herein.
In this regard, techniques taught herein include but are not restricted to 2-photon and 3-
photon time resolved fluorescence spectroscopy as, for example, disclosed by Lakowicz et
al. (1997) Biophys. J. 72:567, fluorescence lifetime imaging as, for example, disclosed by
Eriksson et al. (1993) Biophys. J. 2:64 and fluorescence resonance energy transfer as, for
example, disclosed by Youvan et al. (1997) Biotechnology et elia 3: 1-1 .
[0094] Luminescence and phosphorescence may result respectively from a suitable
luminescent or phosphorescent label as is known in the art. Any optical means of
identifying such label may be used in this regard.
[0095] Infrared radiation may result from a suitable infrared dye. Exemplary infrared
dyes that may be employed in the present disclosure include but are not limited to those
disclosed in Lewis et al. (1999) Dyes Pigm. 42(2): 1 7, Tawa et al. Mater. Res. Soc. Symp.
Proc.488 [Electrical, Optical and Magnetic Properties of Organic Solid-State Materials
IV], 885-890, Daneshvar et al. (1999) J. Immunol. Methods 226(1-2): 19-128, Rapaport et
al. (1999) Appl. Phys. Lett. 74(3):329-33\ and Durig et al. (1993) J Raman Spectrosc.
24(5):2% 1-285. Any suitable infrared spectroscopic method may be employed to
interrogate the infrared dye. For instance, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy as, for
example, described by Rahman et al. (1998) J. Org. Chem. 63:6196 may be used in this
regard.
[0096] Suitably, electromagnetic scattering may result from diffraction, reflection,
polarization or refraction of the incident electromagnetic radiation including light and
X-rays. Such scattering can be used to quantitate the level of mRNA or level of protein.
[0097] Flo cytometry is particularly useful in analyzing fluorophore emission.
[0098] As is known in the art, flow cytometry is a high throughput technique which
involves rapidly analyzing the physical and chemical characteristics of particles (e.g.
labeled mRNA, DNA or proteins) as they pass through the path of one or more laser beams
while suspended in a fluid stream. As each particle intercepts the laser beam, the scattered
light and fluorescent light emitted by each cell or particle is detected and recorded using
any suitable tracking algorithm as, for example, described hereunder.
[0099] A modern flow cytometer is able to perform these tasks up to 100,000
cells/particles s" 1 . Through the use of an optical array of filters and dichroic mirrors,
different wavelengths of fluorescent light can be separated and simultaneously detected. In
addition, a number of lasers with different excitation wavelengths may be used. Hence, a
variety of fluorophores can be used to target and examine, for example, different immune
effectors within a sample or immune effectors from multiple subjects.
[0100] Suitable flow cytometers which may be used in the methods of the present
disclosure include those which measure five to nine optical parameters (see Table 2) using
a single excitation laser, commonly an argon ion air-cooled laser operating at 5 mW on its
488 n spectral line. More advanced flow cytometers are capable of using multiple
excitation lasers such as a HeNe laser (633 nm) or a HeCd laser (325 nm) in addition to the
argon ion laser (488 or 5 4 nm).
Table 2
Exemplary optical parameters which may be measured by aflow cytometer.
using a 488 nm excitation laser
width of bandpass filter
longpass filter
[0101] For example, Biggs et al. (1999) Cytometry 36:36-45 have constructed an
1-parameter flow cytometer using three excitation lasers and have demonstrated the use
of nine distinguishable fluorophores in addition to forward and side scatter measurements
for purposes of immunophenotyping (i.e. classifying) particles. Selection of parameters
can be adequately used depends heavily on the extinction coefficients, quantum yields and
amount of spectral overlap between all fluorophores (Malemed et al. (1990) "Flow
cytometry and sorting", 2nd Ed., New York, Wiley-Liss). It will be understood that the
present disclosure is not restricted to any particular flow cytometer or any particular set of
parameters. In this regard, the disclosure also contemplates use in place of a conventional
flow cytometer, a microfabricated flow cytometer as, for example, disclosed by Fu et al.
(1999) Nature Biotechnology 17: 1109- 11 .
[0102] The assay enabled herein may be automated or semi-automated for high throughput
screening or for screening for a number of immune effectors from the one subject. The
automation is conveniently controlled by computer software.
[0103] The present disclosure further contemplates therefore web-based and non-webbased
systems where data o the cell-mediated immunoresponsiveness of a subject are
provided by a client server or other architecture platform to a central processor which
analyses and compares to a control and optionally considers other information such as
patient age, sex, weight and other medical conditions and then provides a report, such as,
for example, a risk factor for disease severity or progression or status or an index of
probability of disease development. A business method is therefore also provided whereby
blood is collected in transportable tubes which is then analyzed for cell-mediated
immunoresponsiveness at a defined location and the results then sent in the form of an
electronic report via a client server or other architecture platform to a clinical care
provider.
[0104] Hence, knowledge-based computer software and hardware also form part of the
present disclosure. This facilitates clinical care to ascertain whether a disease condition
including infection, cancer of inflammation or a medicament or toxicant is inducing or is
associated with immunosuppression.
[0105] The assays enabled by the instant disclosure may be used in existing or newly
developed knowledge-based architecture or platforms associated with pathology services.
For example, results from the assays are transmitted via a communications network (e.g.
the internet) or telephone connection to a processing system in which an algorithm is
stored and used to generate a predicted posterior probability value which translates to the
index of cell-mediated immunoresponsiveness or immunosuppression which is then
forwarded to an end user in the form of a diagnostic or predictive report. This report may
also form the basis of clinical care management and personalized medicine.
[0106] The assay may, therefore, be in the form of a kit or computer-based system which
comprises the reagents necessary to detect the concentration of the immune effector
molecule following exposure of lymphocytes to at least two sets of peptides, a first set
comprising at least one peptide of from about 7 to 14 amino acid residues in length and a
second set comprising at least one peptide of from 16 amino acid residues or greater which
peptides encompass all or part of a protein antigen and the computer hardware and/or
software to facilitate determination and transmission of reports to a clinician.
[0107] For example, the present disclosure contemplates a method of allowing a user to
determine the status of cell-mediated immunoresponsiveness of a subject, the method
including:
(a) receiving data in the form of levels or concentrations of an immune effector
molecule which, relative to a control, provide a correlation as the state of cell-mediated
immunoresponsiveness in a subject, via a communications network, the immune effector
molecule measured after exposure of lymphocytes to at least two sets of peptides, a first set
comprising at least one peptide of from about 7 to 14 amino acid residues in length and a
second set comprising at least one peptide of from 6 amino acid residues or greater which
peptides encompass all or part of a protein antigen;
(b) processing the subject data via univariate or multivariate analysis to provide
an immunoresponsiveness value;
(c) determining the status of the subject in accordance with the results of the
immunoresponsiveness value in comparison with predetermined values; and
(d) transferring an indication of the status of the subject to the user via the
communications network.
[0108] Reference to the "univariate" or "multivariate" analysis includes an algorithm
which performs the univariate or multivariate analysis function.
[0109] Conveniently, the method generally further includes:
(a) having the user determine the data using a remote end station; and
(b) transferring the data from the end station to the base station via the
communications network.
[0110] The base station can include first and second processing systems, in which case the
method can include:
(a) transferring the data to the first processing system;
(b) transferring the data to the second processing system; and
(c) causing the first processing system to perform the univariate or multivariate
analysis function to generate the cell-mediated immunoresponsiveness value.
[0111] The method may also include:
(a) transferring the results of the univariate or multivariate analysis function to
the first processing system; and
(b) causing the first processing system to determine the status of the subject.
[0112] In this case, the method also includes at least one of:
(a) transferring the data between the communications network and the first
processing system through a first firewall; and
(b) transferring the data between the first and the second processing systems
through a second firewall.
[0113] The second processing system may be coupled to a database adapted to store
predetermined data and/or the univariate or multivariate analysis function, the method
including:
(a) querying the database to obtain at least selected predetermined data or
access to the univariate or multivariate analysis function from the database; and
(b) comparing the selected predetermined data to the subject data or generating
a predicted probability index of a level of cellular immunoresponsiveness or
immunosuppression.
[0114] The second processing system can be coupled to a database, the method including
storing the data in the database.
[01 15] The method can also include causing the base station to:
(a) determine payment information, the payment information representing the
provision of payment by the user; and
(b) perform the comparison in response to the determination of the payment
information.
[0116] The present disclosure also provides a base station for determining the status of a
subject with respect to cell-mediated immunoresponsiveness or immunosuppression, the
base station including:
(a) a store method;
(b) a processing system, the processing system being adapted to:
(c) receive subject data from the user via a communications network, the data
including levels of immune effector molecule wherein the level of the effector molecule
relative to a control provides a correlation to the state of cell-mediated
immunoresponsiveness wherein the immune effector molecule is determined after
exposure of lymphocytes to at least two sets of peptides, a first set comprising at least one
peptide of from about 7 to 14 amino acid residues in length and/or a second set comprising
at least one peptide of from 6 amino acid residues or greater which peptides encompass
all or part of a protein antigen;
(d) performing an algorithmic function including comparing the data to
predetermined data;
(e) determining the status of the subject in accordance with the results of the
algorithmic function including the comparison; and
(c) output an indication of the status of the subject to the user via the
communications network.
[0117] The processing system can be adapted to receive data from a remote end station
adapted to determine the data.
[0118] The processing system may include:
(a) a first processing system adapted to:
(i) receive the data; and
(ii) determine the status of the subject in accordance with the results of
the univariate or multivariate analysis function including comparing the data; and
(b) a second processing system adapted to:
(i) receive the data from the processing system;
(ii) perform the univariate or multivariate analysis function including
the comparison; and
(iii) transfer the results to the first processing system.
[0119] The processing system can be coupled to a database, the processing system being
adapted to store the data in the database.
[0120] In accordance with this embodiment, levels of the immune effector molecule may
be screened alone or in combination with other biomarkers or disease indicators. An
"altered" level means an increase or elevation or a decrease or reduction in the
concentrations of the immune effector molecule.
[0121] The determination of the concentrations or levels of the immune effector molecule
enables establishment of a diagnostic rule based on the concentrations relative to controls.
Alternatively, the diagnostic rule is based on the application of a statistical and machine
learning algorithm. Such an algorithm uses relationships between effector molecule and
disease status observed in training data (with known disease or cell-mediated
immunoresponsiveness status) to infer relationships which are then used to predict the
status of subjects with unknown status. An algorithm can be employed which provides an
index of probability that a subject has a certain level of cell-mediated
immunoresponsiveness and/or a disease condition. The algorithm performs a univariate or
multivariate analysis function.
[0122] Hence, the present disclosure provides a diagnostic rule based on the application of
statistical and machine learning algorithms. Such an algorithm uses the relationships
between immune effector molecule and level of cell-mediated immunoresponsiveness or
immunosuppression observed in training data (with known immune status) to infer
relationships which are then used to predict the status of patients with unknown immune
status. Practitioners skilled in the art of data analysis recognize that many different forms
of inferring relationships in the training data may be used without materially changing the
present disclosure.
[0123] The present disclosure further contemplates the use of a knowledge base of training
data comprising levels of immune effector molecule from a subject with a known cellmediated
immunoresponsiveness level to generate an algorithm which, upon input of a
second knowledge base of data comprising levels of the same immune effector molecule
from a subject with an unknown immunoresponsiveness level, provides an index of
probability that predicts the nature of the cell-mediated immunoresponsiveness.
[0124] The term "training data" includes knowledge of levels of immune effector molecule
relative to a control wherein the immune effector molecule is determined after exposure of
lymphocytes at least two sets of peptides, a first set comprising at least one peptide of from
about 7 to 14 amino acid residues in length and a second set comprising at least one
peptide of from 6 amino acid residues or greater which peptides encompass all or part of
a protein antigen. A "control" includes a comparison to levels of immune effector
molecule in a subject with "normal" immurioresponsiveness or may be a statistically
determined level based on trials.
[0125] Hence, the term "training data" includes levels of an immune effector molecule.
[0126] The levels or concentrations of the immune effector molecule provide the input test
data referred to herein as a "second knowledge base of data". The second knowledge base
of data either is considered relative to a control or is fed into an algorithm generated by a
"first knowledge base of data" which comprise information of the levels of an immune
effector in a subject with a known immunological status. The second knowledge base of
data is from a subject of unknown status with respect to cell mediated
immunoresponsiveness. The output of the algorithm or the comparison to a control is a
probability or risk factor, referred to herein as "an index of probability", of a subject
having a certain level of immunoresponsiveness or immunosuppressive.
[0127] Data generated from the levels of immune effector molecule are input data. The
input of data comprising the immune effector levels is compared with a control or is put
into the algorithm which provides a risk value of the likelihood that the subject has, for
example, an immunosuppressive condition. A treatment regime can also be monitored to
ascertain the presence of any immunosuppression. A level of immunosuppression may
increase the risk of a subject getting a secondary infection or having a relapse (e.g. during
cancer therapy or treatment of a pathogenic infection).
[0128] As described above, methods for diagnosing an immunoresponsiveness or
immunosuppressive condition by determining the extent to which a subject can mount an
innate and/or adaptive immune response via a level of an immune effector molecule
provides a second knowledge base data in an algorithm generated with first knowledge
base data or levels of the same effector molecule in subjects with a known immune status.
Also provided are methods of detecting immunoresponsiveness comprising determining
the presence and/or velocity of an immune effector molecule following stimulation of the
innate and/or adaptive immune system in a subject's sample. By "velocity" it is meant the
change in the concentration of the effector molecule in a subject's sample over time.
[0129] As indicated above, the term "sample" as used herein means any sample containing
one or more lymphocytes including, but not limited to, whole blood, a whole blood
fraction, tissue extracts and freshly harvested cells.
[0130] The method of the subject disclosure may be used in the diagnosis and staging of a
disease. The present disclosure may also be used to monitor the progression of a condition
and to monitor whether a particular treatment is effective or not. In particular, the method
can be used to monitor immunosuppression following surgery, cancer therapy or other or
medication or exposure to toxicants.
[0131] n an embodiment, the subject disclosure contemplates a method for monitoring for
immunosuppression in a subject, comprising:
(a) providing a sample from a subject;
(b) determining the level of an immune effector molecule following stimulation
by at least two sets of peptides, a first set comprising at least one peptide of from
about 7 to 14 amino acid residues in length and a second set comprising at least one
peptide of from 16 amino acid residues or greater which peptides encompass all or
part of a protein antigen;
wherein the level of the immune effector relative to a control provides a correlation to the
state of cell-mediated immunoresponsiveness and subjecting the levels to an algorithm to
provide an index of probability of the subject having a certain level of
immunoresponsiveness; and
(c) repeating steps (a) and (b) at a later point in time and comparing the result
of step (b) with the result of step (c) wherein a difference in the index of probability is
indicative of the progression of the condition in the subject.
[0132] Reference to an "algorithm" or "algorithmic functions" as outlined above includes
the performance of a univariate or multivariate analysis function. A range of different
architectures and platforms may be implemented in addition to those described above. It
will be appreciated that any form of architecture suitable for implementing the present
disclosure may be used. However, one beneficial technique is the use of distributed
architectures. In particular, a number of end stations may be provided at respective
geographical locations. This can increase the efficiency of the system by reducing data
bandwidth costs and requirements, as well as ensuring that if one base station becomes
congested or a fault occurs, other end stations could take over. This also allows load
sharing or the like, to ensure access to the system is available at all times.
[0133] In this case, it would be necessary to ensure that the base station contains the same
information and signature such that different end stations can be used.
[0134] It will also be appreciated that in one example, the end stations can be hand-held
devices, such as PDAs, mobile phones, or the like, which are capable of transferring the
subject data to the base station via a communications network such as the Internet, arid
receiving the reports.
[0135] In the above aspects, the term "data" means the levels or concentrations of the
immune effector following stimulation by a series of overlapping peptides from about 7 to
14 amino acid residues in length which encompass the entire length of a protein antigen.
The "communications network" includes the internet and mobile telephone network and
telephone land line. When a server is used, it is generally a client server or more
particularly a simple object application protocol (SOAP).
[0136] One aspect of the present disclosure includes experiments that demonstrate the cellmediated
immune responsiveness of a subject by measuring responsiveness to at least two
sets of peptides, a first set comprising at least one peptide of from about 7 to 14 amino acid
residues in length and a second set comprising at least one peptide of from 1 amino acid
residues or greater which peptides encompass all or part of a protein antigen. In an
embodiment, one or more samples such as a sample of peripheral blood, of enriched white
cell fraction of blood or bronchoalveolar lavage may be obtained from a subject having or
suspected of development of a particular disease (e.g. autoimmune disease, infection to a
pathogenic agent or exposure to a proteinaceous toxicant) and the immune responsiveness
measured by determination of effector molecules from effector T-cells (e.g. CD4+ T-cells
and CD8+ T-cells).
[0137] The immunobinding methods include methods for detecting or quantifying the
amount of a reactive component in a sample, which methods require the detection or
quantitation of any immune complexes formed during the binding process. Here, one
would obtain a sample suspected of containing a cytokine following stimulation of
lymphocytes by at least two sets of peptides, a first set comprising at least one peptide of
from about 7 to 14 amino acid residues in length and a second set comprising at least one
peptide of from 16 amino acid residues or greater which peptides encompass all or part of
a protein antigen and contacting the sample with an antibody and then detecting or
quantifying the amount of immune complexes formed under the specific conditions.
[0138] Contacting the chosen biological sample with the antibody under conditions
effective and for a period of time sufficient to allow the formation of immune complexes
(primary immune complexes) is generally a matter of adding the composition to the sample
and incubating the mixture for a period of time long enough for the antibodies to form
immune complexes with, i.e. to bind to, any effector molecules present. After this time, the
sample-antibody composition, such as a tissue section, ELISA plate, ELISpot, dot blot or
Western blot, will generally be washed to remove any non-specifically bound antibody
species, allowing only those antibodies specifically bound within the primary immune
complexes to be detected.
[0139] In a particular embodiment, the present disclosure teaches a method for detecting
the presence, absence, level or stage of a disease or condition in a human subject, the
method comprising contacting whole blood, which comprises at least 10% of the total
volume in a reaction mixture, with at least two sets of peptides, a first set comprising at
least one peptide of from about 7 to 14 amino acid residues in length and a second set
comprising at least one peptide of from 6 amino acid residues or greater which peptides
encompass all or part of a protein antigen and measuring the presence or elevation in the
level of an immune effector molecule from T-cells wherein the presence or level of the
immune effector molecule is indicative of the disease or condition.
[0140] In a further embodiment, the present disclosure enables kits for use with the
methods described above. In one embodiment, an immunodetection kit is contemplated. In
another embodiment, a kit for analysis of a sample from a subject having or suspected of
developing a metal or chemically-induced disease is contemplated. In a more particular
embodiment, a kit for analysis of a sample from a subject having or suspected of
developing a disease is contemplated. In an embodiment, a kit is for assessing the cellmediated
immune responsiveness of a subject before or after a disease state has developed
or before or after a subject is given a medicament or is exposed to a toxicant or pollutant.
If an antigen is also employed, the kit may also comprise a particular antigen.
[0141 J The immunodetection reagents of the kit may take any one of a variety of forms,
including those detectable labels that are associated with or linked to the given antibody or
antigen, and detectable labels that are associated with or attached to a secondary binding
ligand. Exemplary secondary ligands are those secondary antibodies that have binding
affinity for the first antibody or antigen, and secondary antibodies that have binding
affinity for a human antibody.
[0142] Further suitable immunodetection reagents for use in the present kits include the
two-component reagent that comprises a secondary antibody that has binding affinity for
the first antibody or antigen, along with a third antibody that has binding affinity for the
second antibody, the third antibody being linked to a detectable label.
[0143] The kits may further comprise a suitably aliquoted composition of antigen or
effector molecule, whether labeled or unlabeled, as may be used to prepare a standard
curve for a detection assay.
[0144] The kits may contain antibody-label conjugates either in fully conjugated form, in
the form of intermediates, or as separate moieties to be conjugated by the user of the kit.
The components of the kits may be packaged either in aqueous media or in lyophilized
form.
[0145] The container means of any of the kits generally includes at least one vial, test tube,
flask, bottle, syringe or other container means, into which the testing agent, the antibody or
antigen may be placed, and generally, suitably aliquoted. Where a second or third binding
ligand or additional component is provided, the kit will also generally contain a second,
third or other additional container into which this ligand or component may be placed. The
kits taught by the present disclosure also typically include a means for containing the
antibody, peptides derived from an antigen and any other reagent containers in close
confinement for commercial sale. Such containers may include injection or blow-molded
plastic containers into which the desired vials are retained.
[0146] Also contemplated herein is an improved assay to detect a cell-mediated immune
response or the level thereof in a subject, the assay comprising incubating lymphocytes
from the subject with an antigen and detecting for the presence of or elevation in effector
molecules, the improvement comprising incubating the lymphocytes with at least two sets
of peptides,' a first set comprising at least one peptide of from about 7 to 14 amino acid
residues in length and a second set comprising at least one peptide of from 16 amino acid
residues or greater which peptides encompass all or part of a protein antigen.
[0147] The present disclosure further provides a method of treatment of a subject having a
pathogenic infection, an autoimmune disorder or cancer or a propensity for developing
such a condition or disorder, the method comprising contacting a source of lymphocytes
from the subject with at least two sets of peptides, a first set comprising at least one
peptide of from about 7 to 14 amino acid residues in length and a second set comprising at
least one peptide of from 16 amino acid residues or greater which peptides encompass all
or part of a protein antigen and measuring the presence or elevation in the level of an
immune effector molecule from T-cells wherein the presence or level of the immune
effector molecule is indicative of the level of cell-mediated responsiveness of the subject
which is indicative of the presence, absence, level or state of the condition or disorder and
then treating the condition or disorder.
[0148] Aspects taught herein are further described by the following non-limiting
Examples.
EXAMPLE 1
Development of Assay
[0149] Heparinized blood samples are collected into Li-Hep Vacuette [Registered Trade
Mark] tubes (Greiner Bio-one, Germany).
[0150] Aliquots of the blood samples were incubated with at least two sets of peptides, a
first set comprising at least one peptide of from about 7 to 14 amino acid residues in length
(recognizing CD8+ T-cells) and a second set comprising at least one peptide of from 16
amino acid residues or greater which peptides (recognizing CD4+ T-cells) encompass all or
part of a protein antigen, wherein the antigen is selected from M. tuberculosis CFP10,
ESAT-6, TB7.7 and TB37.6.
[0151] In some experiments, glucose is added at various concentrations to the blood before
initiation of incubation.
[0152] Stimulated blood samples were incubated for 1 to 48 hours including 16-24 hours
in the presence of the antigen peptides at 37°C, after which plasma was harvested from
above the settled blood cells. The amount of IFN-present in each plasma sample was
then quantified using the Quantiferon-TB [Registered Trade Mark] ELISA (Cellestis
Limited, Australia) as per the manufacturer's instructions. Sample IFN-was alternatively
quantified using the more sensitive Quantiferon-TB Gold [Registered Trade Mark] ELISA
(Cellestis Limited, Australia) as per the manufacturer's instructions.
[0153] ELISA optical density values for IFN-standards run on each ELISA plate were
used to construct a standard curve from which the amount of IFN-present in each of the
test plasma samples was converted to IU/mL values.
EXAMPLE 2
Boosting responses in the QuantiFERON-TB tubes by the addition of CD8+ TB-specific
peptides to the CD4+peptides
[0154] These studies were carried out in a group of patients with a clinically confirmed
active tuberculosis infection. Patients were tested with the current QuantiFERON-TB In-
Tube diagnostic test. The QuantiFERON-TB tube contains peptide pools specific for
CD4+ T-cells (> 5 mer peptides). Patients were also tested using a modified tube in which
pools of peptides specific for CD8+ T-cells had been added (10 mer peptides). These
additional peptides were tested as a complete pool of 9 1 peptides, and as two smaller
pools. These pools were also added to QuantiFERON-Nil tubes as controls to assess
background responses to these peptides alone.
[0155] In the patients with active TB disease, adding the CD8+ peptides to the
QuantiFERON-TB tubes resulted in a 10% increase in sensitivity compared to the current
QuantiFERON-TB test.
EXAMPLE 3
Diagnosis of TB using CFIOpeptide pools
[0156] The aim of this Example was to test whether TB antigens, designed to be
recognized by CD8+ T-cells (10 mer peptides), are able to induce the production of
detectable levels of IFN-y in blood from patients with an active TB infection. It was
proposed that the use of MHC class I-restricted peptides (termed "CD8+ peptides") alone,
or in conjunction with the current peptides, would improve the sensitivity of the diagnosis
of TB. This is particularly relevant in HIV-infected individuals who have reduced numbers
ofCD4 + T-cells. .
[0157] A total of 9 1 peptides, each 10 amino acids in length, covering the entire length of
the CFP10 protein were pooled together in three pools. Pool 1 contained all 9 1
peptides, Pool 2 contained peptides covering the first half of the CFP10 protein (peptides
1-45) and Pool 3 contained peptides covering the second half of the CFP10 protein
(peptides 46-91). Pools were tested alone (added to a Nil tube) or in combination with the
current QFT-TB Gold antigen tube.
[0158] In total, 63 patients were recruited. Of these, 50 patients tested positive to the
QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-tube test. 31 patients were recruited who had active TB disease
confirmed by culture (or clinical symptoms in one case) and 1 patients recruited were TB
suspects.
Patient information:
TB disease: 3 1 (one not confirmed by culture)
TB suspects: 19
HHC: 13
Total # of patients: 63
[0159] The results are shown in Table 3 through 7 and in Figure 1 and show the qualitative
results for peptide pools tested in combination with a QFT-TB Gold antigen tube.
Table 3
Patients with TB disease (n=31):
Table 4
TB suspects (n=19):
Table 5
HHC Patients (n
[0160] A quantitative analysis was performed to examine the effects of adding the pools of
CD8+ peptides to existing tubes of CD4+ peptides, with regard to boosting the IFN-
response, in comparison to the QFT-TB Gold antigen tube alone. A boost in the IFN-
response was defined as an increase > 1.5 fold of the QFN TB result. Evaluable patients
exclude those with a response that converted/reverted or where not all plasma samples
were quantifiable. Figure 1 indicates the mean IFN-response to the QFT-TB alone or in
combination with each pool.
Table 6
Evaluable Patients with TB disease (n
Table 7
Evaluable TB suspects (n
[0161] These data indicate that the addition of the CD8+ peptides to the current QFT-TB
Gold In Tube assay (which contains CD4+ peptides) results in a 10% increase in assay
sensitivity. Furthermore, the data indicate that an increase in response magnitude ("boost")
of greater than 1.5-fold resulting from the addition of the CD8 peptides is only apparent
when the assay is performed on patient samples derived from subjects with confirmed
active TB-disease. These data indicate that the addition of CD8 peptides to the current
QFT-TB Gold In Tube assay differentiates between subjects with active versus latent TB
disease.
EXAMPLE 4
Effect of CFPIO CD8+peptides on assay specificity
[0162] The aim of this Example was to investigate if the addition of the CFPIO CD8
peptides to the QFT-TB Gold tube results in a reduction in the assay specificity. Therefore,
peptide pools were used in conjunction with the QFT-TB Gold In Tube assay (which
contain CD4+ peptides) in a population of healthy control donors recruited from a country
with low TB incidence (Melbourne, Australia).
[0163] A total of 9 1 peptides, each 10 amino acids in length, covering the entire length of
the CFPIO Mftprotein were pooled together in three pools. Pool 1 contained peptides
covering the first half of the CFPIO protein (peptides 1-45), Pool 2 contained peptides
covering the second half of the CFPIO protein (peptides 46-91) and Pool 3 contained all 9 1
peptides.
[0164] In total, 92 subjects were recruited. Of these, 3 subjects tested positive to the
QuantiFERON-TB Gold In Tube test. No QFT-TB negative subjects showed a response to
any of the peptide pools. The results are shown in Tables 8 and 9.
Table 8
[0165] Of the 3 QFT-TB positive donors, no boost in the IFN-response was observed
with the addition of the peptide pools (increase > .5 fold of the QFN TB result).
Table 9
Pool 1 Pool 2 Pool 3
Boost (>1.5x QFN TB result) 0 0 0
No boost 3 3 3
%Boost (of evaluable patients) 0% 0% 0%
[0166] These data indicate that the addition of the CD8+ peptides to the current QFT-TB
Gold In Tube assay does not negatively impact the assay specificity.
EXAMPLE
Combination of CMV 16 mer CD4* with peptide CD8+peptides in a QFT-CMV assay
[0167] This Example investigated whether if the addition of the CD8+ peptides enhanced
the response in a QFT-CMV assay using a 16 mer peptide from the CMV antigen pp65.
[0168] Blood from three healthy donors, with a positive CMV serology result, was used in
the QFT-CMV assay with the addition of 1) a Nil tube containing ^g/ml (final
concentration) of the 16-mer peptide, and 2) a QFT-CMV tube with the addition of 1 g m
(final concentration) of the 16-mer peptide. The assay was performed according to the
manufacturer's instructions.
[0169] 0/3 donors responded to the 16-mer peptide alone. 3/3 donors responded to the 16
mer + CD8+-peptides in the QFT-CMV assay. The results are shown graphically in figure
1 below.
[0170] No response to the 16 mer peptide was observed in any donor. All donors showed
a positive response to the 16 mer peptide in combination with the CD8+ peptides in the
QFT-CMV assay.
[0171] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that aspects of the subject matter described.
It is to be understood that the disclosure encompasses all such variations and
modifications. The disclosure also includes all of the steps, features, compositions and
compounds referred to or indicated in this specification, individually or collectively, and
any and all combinations of any two or more of the steps or features.
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CLAIMS:
1. A method for measuring cell-mediated immune response activity in a subject, said
method comprising contacting lymphocytes from the subject with at least two sets of
peptides, a first set comprising at least one peptide of from about 7 to 14 amino acid
residues in length and a second set comprising at least one peptide of from 16 amino acid
residues or greater which peptides encompass all or part of a protein antigen and
measuring the presence or elevation in the level of an immune effector molecule from
immune cells wherein the presence or level of the immune effector molecule is indicative
of the level of cell-mediated responsiveness of the subject.
2. The method of Claim 1 wherein the subject is a human.
3. The method of Claim 1 wherein the 7 to 14 amino acid peptides are recognized by
CD4+ lymphocytes and the 16 amino acid or greater peptides are recognized by CD8+
lymphocytes.
4. The method of Claim 1 wherein the sample is undiluted whole blood.
5. The method of Claim 4 wherein the sample is whole blood which comprises from
about 10% to 100% by volume of the sample to be assayed.
6. The method of Claim 5 wherein the whole blood comprises from about 50% to
100% by volume of the sample to be assayed.
7. The method of Claim 6 wherein the whole blood comprises from about 80% to
100% by volume of the sample to be assayed.
8. The method of Claim 1 wherein the whole blood is collected in a tube comprising
heparin.
9. The method of Claim 1 wherein the immune effector molecule is a cytokine.
10. The method of Claim 11 wherein the cytokine is IFN-.
11. The method of Claim 1 wherein the immune effectors are detected with antibodies
specific for same.
12. The method of Claim 11 wherein the immune effectors are detected using ELISA.
13. The method of Claim 12 wherein the immune effectors are detected using ELISpot.
14. The method of Claim 1 wherein the subject has an infection by a pathogenic agent
selected from Mycobacterium species, Staphylococcus species, Streptococcus species,
Borrelia species, Escherichia coli, Salmonella species, Clostridium species, Shigella
species, Proteus species, Bacillus species, Herpes virus, Hepatitis B or C virus and Human
immune deficiency virus (HIV) or a disease resulting therefrom.
15. The method of Claim 14 wherein the disease condition is an infection by
Mycobacterium tuberculosis or tuberculosis (TB). .
16. The method of Claim 15 wherein the antigen is selected from CFP10, ESAT-6,
TB7.7 and TB37.6.
17. The method of Claim 1 wherein the subject has a disease condition selected from
alopecia areata, ankylosing spondylitis, antiphospholipid syndrome, autoimmune
Addison's disease multiple sclerosis, autoimmune disease of the adrenal gland,
autoimmune hemolytic anemia, autoimmune hepatitis, autoimmune oophoritis and orchitis,
Behcet's disease, bullous pemphigoid, cardiomyopathy, celiac sprue-dermatitis, chronic
fatigue syndrome (CFIDS), chronic inflammatory demyelinating, chronic inflammatory
polyneuropathy, Churg-Strauss syndrome, cicatricial pemphigoid, crest syndrome, cold
agglutinin disease, Crohn's disease, dermatitis herpetiformis, discoid lupus, essential mixed
cryoglobulinemia, fibromyalgia, glomerulonephritis, Grave's disease, Guillain -Barre,
Hashimoto's thyroiditis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, idiopathic thrombocytopenia
purpura (ITP), IgA nephropathy, insulin dependent diabetes (Type I), lichen planus, lupus,
Meniere's disease, mixed connective tissue disease, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis,
myocarditis, pemphigus vulgaris, pernicious anemia, polyarteritis nodosa, polychondritis,
polyglancular syndromes, polymyalgia rheumatica, polymyositis and dermatomyositis,
primary agammaglobulinemia, primary biliary cirrhosis, psoriasis, Raynaud's
phenomenon, Reiter's syndrome, rheumatic fever, rheumatoid arrthritis, sarcoidosis,
scleroderma, Sjogren's syndrome, stiff-man syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus,
Takayasu arteritis, temporal arteritis/gianT-cell arteritis, ulcerative colitis, uveitis,
vasculitis, vitiligo and inflammatory bowel disease.
18. The method of Claim 17 wherein the disease is Celiac's disease.
19. The method of Claim 18 wherein the disease is autoimmune diabetes.
20. The method of Claim 1 wherein the subject has a cancer selected from ABL1
protooncogene, AIDS related cancers, acoustic neuroma, acute lymphocytic leukaemia,
acute myeloid leukaemia, adenocystic carcinoma, adrenocortical cancer, agnogenic
myeloid metaplasia, alopecia, alveolar soft-part sarcoma, anal cancer, angiosarcoma,
aplastic anaemia, astrocytoma, ataxia-telangiectasia, basal cell carcinoma (skin), bladder
cancer, bone cancers, bowel cancer, brain stem glioma, brain and CNS tumors, breast
cancer, CNS tumors, carcinoid tumors, cervical cancer, childhood brain tumors, childhood
cancer, childhood leukaemia, childhood soft tissue sarcoma, chondrosarcoma,
choriocarcinoma, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, chronic myeloid leukaemia, colorectal
cancers, cutaneous T-Cell lymphoma, dermatofibrosarcoma-protuberans, desmoplasticsmall-
round-cell-tumor, ductal carcinoma, endocrine cancers, endometrial cancer,
ependymoma, esophageal cancer, Ewing's sarcoma, extra-hepatic bile duct cancer, eye
cancer, eye: melanoma, retinoblastoma, fallopian tube cancer, fanconi anemia,
fibrosarcoma, gall bladder cancer, gastric cancer, gastrointestinal cancers, gastrointestinalcarcinoid-
tumor, genitourinary cancers, germ cell tumors, gestational-trophoblasticdisease,
glioma, gynaecological cancers, hematological malignancies, hairy cell leukaemia,
head and neck cancer, hepatocellular cancer, hereditary breast cancer, histiocytosis,
Hodgkin's disease, human papillomavirus, hydatidiform mole, hypercalcemia,
hypopharynx cancer, intraocular melanoma, islet cell cancer, Kaposi's sarcoma, kidney
cancer, Langerhan's-cell-histiocytosis, laryngeal cancer, leiomyosarcoma, leukemia, Li-
Fraumeni syndrome, lip cancer, liposarcoma, liver cancer, lung cancer, lymphedema,
lymphoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, male breast cancer,
malignant-rhabdoid-tumor-of-kidney, meduUoblastoma, melanoma, merkel cell cancer,
mesothelioma, metastatic cancer, mouth cancer, multiple endocrine neoplasia, mycosis
fungoides, myelodysplastic syndromes, myeloma, myeloproliferative disorders, nasal
cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, nephroblastoma, neuroblastoma, neurofibromatosis,
nijmegen breakage syndrome, non-melanoma skin cancer, non-small-cell-lung-cancer-
(NSCLC), ocular cancers, oesophageal cancer, oral cavity cancer, oropharynx cancer,
osteosarcoma, ostomy ovarian cancer, pancreas cancer, paranasal cancer, parathyroid
cancer, parotid gland cancer, penile cancer, peripheral-neuroectodermal -tumors, pituitary
cancer, polycythemia vera, prostate cancer, rare-cancers-and-associated-disorders, renal
cell carcinoma, retinoblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, Rothmund-Thomson syndrome,
salivary gland cancer, sarcoma, schwannoma, Sezary syndrome, skin cancer, small cell
lung cancer (SCLC), small intestine cancer, soft tissue sarcoma, spinal cord tumors,
squamous-cell-carcinoma-(skin), stomach cancer, synovial sarcoma, testicular cancer,
thymus cancer, thyroid cancer, transitional-cell-cancer-(bladder), transitional-cell-cancer-
(renal-pelvis-/-ureter), trophoblastic cancer, urethral cancer, urinary system cancer,
uroplakins, uterine sarcoma, uterus cancer, vaginal cancer, vulva cancer, Waldenstrom' smacroglobulinemia
and Wilms' tumor.
21. The method of Claim 1 wherein the subject was exposed to a proteinaceous
toxicant.
22. The method of any one of Claims 1 to 2 1 wherein the magnitude of the cellmediated
immune response correlates with the state, progression and/or severity of a
disease condition.
23. Use of at least two sets of peptides, a first set comprising at least one peptide of
from about 7 to 14 amino acid residues in length and a second set comprising at least one
peptide of from 6 amino acid residues or greater which peptides encompass all or part of
a protein antigen in the manufacture of a diagnostic assay of cell-mediated immune
responsiveness by the method of incubating of the peptides with lymphocytes and
detecting the presence or elevation in effector molecules.
24. A method of allowing a user to determine the status of cell-mediated
immunoresponsiveness of a subject, the method including:
(a) receiving data in the form of levels or concentrations of an immune effector
molecule which relative to a control provide a correlation to the state of cell-mediated
immunoresponsiveness from the user via a communications network, the immune effector
molecule measured after exposure of lymphocytes to at least two sets of peptides, a first set
comprising at least one peptide of from about 7 to 14 amino acid residues in length and a
second set comprising at least one peptide of from 16 amino acid residues or greater which
peptides encompass all or part of a protein antigen;
(b) processing the subject data via univariate or multivariate analysis to provide
an immunoresponsiveness value;
(c) determining the status of the subject in accordance with the results of the
immunoresponsiveness value in comparison with predetermined values; and
(d) transferring an indication of the status of the subject to the user via the
communications network.