Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 14, 2026
Detection of Polyfunctional T Cells in Children Vaccinated with Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine via the Flow Cytometry Technique
Published on: September 23, 2022
Immune response of young children using ATP-based Cylex assay: a brief report
Archana Jayaram1, Adrianna Zeevi, Carol Bentlejewski
1Professor of Pediatrics and Surgery, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA15224,USA.
Insights
Young children under three years old show a robust immune response to mitogens, similar to older children. This study utilized the Cylex assay to measure ATP release, indicating T-cell function in pediatric immunity.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Limited data exists on the immune responses of young children, particularly those under three years old.
- Assessing T-cell function in this age group is crucial for understanding pediatric immune development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure the immune response of healthy children under three years of age to common mitogens.
- To evaluate the utility of the Cylex assay for assessing T-cell function in infants and toddlers.
Main Methods:
- Blood samples were collected from 20 healthy children aged 10-27 months during routine healthcare visits.
- The Cylex assay was employed to quantify Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) production by CD4+ and CD3+ T-cells.
- Cells were stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin A (Con-A) to assess T-cell responsiveness.
Main Results:
- CD4+ T-cells demonstrated significant ATP production in response to PHA stimulation (mean 376 ng/mL), comparable to older children.
- CD3+ T-cells showed measurable ATP production following Con-A stimulation (mean 114 ng/mL, median 93.3 ng/mL).
- The results indicate a comparable mitogen response between young children and older cohorts.
Conclusions:
- Despite an evolving immune system, young children (under three years) exhibit a functional immune response to mitogen stimulation.
- The Cylex assay is a viable method for assessing T-cell immune responses in pediatric populations.
- These findings contribute valuable data to the understanding of early-life immunity.
Abstract:
Data on immune responses of young children using ATP release-based Cylex assay are insufficient. This study measured the immune response of healthy children less than three years of age to mitogens, PHA and Con-A. Blood was obtained from children attending routine health care visits. The Cylex assay was used to measure ATP production by CD4+ and CD3+ cells in response to PHA and Con-A, respectively. Samples from 20 children less than three years (range 10-27 months) were evaluated. The mean ATP production by CD4+ lymphocytes following PHA stimulation was 376 ng/mL (95% CI 17.1-735), which was similar to the response of older children in Hooper et al.'s (Clin Transplant 2005;19:834) study (p-value 0.28). The mean and median ATP production by CD3+ cells following Con-A stimulation were 114 ng/mL and 93.3 ng/mL, respectively (95% CI for median 45.2,148.6). The data suggest that although the immune system of young infants and toddlers is evolving, they are still able to respond to mitogen stimulation similar to older children.
