Method for epigenetic immune cell counting

1. A method for determining the absolute copy number of an immune cell type per volume of sample, comprising the steps of:

A) determining blood immune cells (BIC) per volume of the sample by

a) providing a defined volume of a sample of human blood comprising diploid genomic DNA of blood immune cells;

b) providing an in silico bisulfite-converted recombinant nucleic acid comprising at least one demethylation standard gene, and a sequence inversing all CpG dinucleotides to GpC of the at least one demethylation standard gene (“standard I”), wherein the demethylation standard gene is selected from a gene expressed in all cells to be detected;

c) providing a recombinant nucleic acid comprising demethylated genomic sequence of the at least one demethylation standard gene of b), and a sequence inversing all CpG dinucleotides to GpC of the at least one demethylation standard gene of b) (“calibrator I”);

d) providing a recombinant nucleic acid comprising the sequence inversing all CpG dinucleotides to GpC of the at least one demethylation standard gene of b) (“spiker I”);

e) adding a defined amount of said recombinant nucleic acid of d) to the sample of a) (“spiking”);

f) treating said diploid genomic DNA of the cells to be quantitated from a) and the recombinant nucleic acids of c) and d) with bisulfite to convert unmethylated cytosines into uracil:

g) amplifying of said nucleic acids b), c), and f) using suitable primer pairs to produce at least one amplicon pair selected from the group consisting of AMP1570 with at least one of AMP1255, 2000, 2001, 2007, 2249, 2674, 1405, 1406, and 1408; and

h) identifying the blood immune cells (BIC) per volume of sample based on analyzing said amplicon pair(s) as produced in step g),

B) determining a fraction of demethylation per all cells (DDC) in the sample by

i) providing a sample of human blood comprising diploid genomic DNA of blood cells to be quantitated;

j) providing an in silico bisulfite-converted recombinant nucleic acid comprising at least one demethylation standard gene, wherein said demethylation standard gene is selected from a gene expressed in all cells to be detected, and at least one blood cell specific gene (“standard II”);

k) providing a recombinant nucleic acid comprising the demethylated genomic sequence of said at least one demethylation standard gene of j), and of said at least one blood cell specific gene of j) (“calibrator II”);

l) treating said diploid genomic DNA of the cells to be quantitated of i) and said recombinant nucleic acid of k) with bisulfite to convert unmethylated cytosines into uracil;

m) amplifying of said nucleic acids of j), k), and l) using suitable primer pairs to produce at least one amplicon pair selected from the group consisting of AMP1570 with at least one of AMP1255, 2000, 2001, 2007, 2249, 2674, 1405, 1406, and 1408; and

n) identifying the fraction of demethylation per all cells (DDC) based on analyzing said amplicon pair(s) as produced in step m), and

C) Multiplying the BIC as identified with the DDC as identified, and thereby determining the absolute copy number of the immune cell type per volume of sample.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said blood immune cell is selected from a leukocyte, a T-lymphocyte, a granulocyte, a monocyte, a B-lymphocyte and/or an NK-cell.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said recombinant nucleic acid is selected from a plasmid, a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC), human artificial chromosome (HAC), PI-derived artificial chromosome (PAC), a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC), and a PCR-product.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said demethylation standard gene is selected from a gene expressed in all cells to be detected and is a housekeeping gene.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said blood immune cell specific gene is expressed in all blood immune cells to be detected.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein said blood sample is selected from peripheral blood samples, capillary blood samples, peripheral blood monocytes, blood clots, or dried blood spots.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of concluding on the immune status of a mammal based on the absolute copy number of the immune cell type per volume of sample as determined.

8. The method of claim 4 , wherein the housekeeping gene is GAPDH.

9. The method of claim 5 , wherein the gene expressed in all blood immune cells is CD4.