A rapid test to monitor alloreactive responses in whole blood using real-time polymerase chain reaction

Rapid, simple, and reliable assays to monitor allogeneic responses are essential for the safe development of novel protocols of tailored immunosuppression. Herein, we describe a real-time polymerase chain reaction method based on interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma mRNA quantification upon stimulation of whole blood with allogeneic T cell-depleted peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The technique requires only small blood volumes and results can be obtained within 48 hours. Data obtained in a liver transplant patient receiving a tolerance induction protocol based on the infusion of donor-type hematopoietic stem cells suggest that this rapid whole blood mixed lymphocyte reaction assay could be valuable for the monitoring of patients undergoing solid organ or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.