EPIGENETIC MARKERS FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF CD3/CD4+ OR CD3/CD8+ T-LYMPHOCYTES

摘要

The present invention relates to a method, in particular an in vitro method,for identifying CD3CD4 positive Tlymphocytes of a mammal, wherein said method comprises analysing themethylation status of at least one CpG position in theCD3a/b/c/d/g genes, in particular their "upstream" regulatory regions, and inparticular the promoter and other conserved regionsof the gene cd3, wherein a demethylation of at least one CpG in the analyzedsample to at least 90% is indicative for memory andnaive CD4 or/and memory and/or naïve T lymphocytes. Furthermore, the presentinvention is directed at the use of DNA-methylationanalysis of the genes CD3a/b/c/d for the detection and quality assurance andcontrol of T lymphocytes. Furthermore, thepresent invention relates to a kit for performing the above methods as well asrespective uses thereof. In a preferred embodiment,the present invention furthermore provides an improved method for analysingthe methylation status of at least one CpG positionin the gene CD3, allowing for a precise analysis even from sub-optimal qualitysamples, such as non-freshly obtained blood orserum samples.