The international journal “Nature Biotechnology” (Nature Biotechnology) published a study on the evening of the 13th of this month, using the PCR quantitative technology of blood to analyze the blood concentration of the cytokine “CXCL10” related to T cell immune response, It can effectively reflect the degree and duration of T cell immune response to the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), which will help to evaluate the priority strategy of vaccine booster in the future.
The Taiwan Science and Technology Media Center invited experts to analyze the research and provide professional opinions. Experts believe that this study will further understand the immunity of individuals themselves once morest the virus. In addition to helping to assess the antiviral ability and infection risk, it can also help with vaccine administration strategies and assess the need for boosters. As virus variants emerge one following another, research will also help us understand whether people who have recovered or been vaccinated following infection are still resistant to the variants.
A summary of the expert opinion follows:
Chen Siting, an associate professor at the Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yangming Jiaotong University, said that the research team used blood to analyze the markers of specific T cell activation, but the method of analyzing T cell activation was changed to a fast quantitative PCR method that has been well established for a long time. The combined analysis coexisted A specific gene expression (CXCL-10) of another immune cell (monocyte) in the blood, and this gene was singled out as a surrogate marker for T cell activation by analyzing the gene-related profile of blood in each group.
Chen Siting pointed out that the results of the study show that the sensitivity and specificity of rapid testing of specific marker genes is quite close to that of traditional methods for analyzing T cells. If it is necessary to screen the cellular immunity status of the population on a large scale, it may be possible to evaluate whether the cellular immunity generated by the host’s vaccination can fight once morest the new variant virus and continue to provide cellular immunity following the vaccine is administered. It is expected to provide a relatively simple cellular immunity analysis platform in the future large-scale infectious diseases.
Su Gangyi, associate professor of the Department of Medical Laboratory and Biotechnology, National Taiwan University School of Medicine, said that the importance of this study lies in the fact that it is different from the previous detection of virus-related antigens, antibodies, and nucleic acids, and to further understand an individual’s own immunity once morest viruses. In addition to helping to understand its own antiviral ability and infection risk, it can also help with vaccine administration strategies and assess the need for supplemental supplements. And as virus variants emerge one following another, it also helps us understand whether people who recover or get vaccinated following infection are still resistant to these variants.
Su Gangyi also pointed out that the results of this study can indeed assist doctors, infected persons and even health authorities in their strategies for treatment and epidemic prevention. However, it must also be noted that when the human immune system is subjected to any internal or external stimulation, many molecules will be produced to respond. Although this study uses the “specific antigen” of the new coronavirus to induce the immune system, the study observed that T cells release The cytokine “gamma interferon” and monocyte cytokine (CXCL10) are not only produced by the stimulation of the new coronavirus, and this study did not evaluate the influence of infection sources other than the new coronavirus or other physiological symptoms. Therefore, in clinical application, it is necessary to consider the background factors of the subjects and even the development of the epidemic.
This article is reproduced from /SMC Taiwan Technology Media Center
