The effect of cytomegalovirus infection on T lymphocytes after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.
The influence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection on peripheral T lymphocyte repopulation was studied in 59 bone marrow transplant (BMT) recipients who received either cyclosporin A (CyA) or methotrexate (MTX) as prophylaxis for acute graft-versus-host disease. We used monoclonal antibodies and single- or double-marker immunofluorescence for the quantitation of T4+, T8+ and HNK1+ T cell subpopulations. CMV infection was serologically diagnosed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and by viral cultures and histological studies. Among the 52 patients who were evaluable for CMV infection, one had a primary infection and 24 had CMV reactivation/reinfection after BMT. In the latter patients, increases to supranormal levels were observed in T8+ T cells and HNK1+ T cells, both in patients on CyA and in patients on MTX. Double-marker immunofluorescence revealed that the two markers were largely expressed by the same cells, which therefore had the T8+ HNK1+ phenotype. In addition, the very small subset of T4+ HNK+ T cells was slightly, but consistently, increased in the patients with CMV reactivation/reinfection. CMV infection did not influence the numbers of T4+ HNK1- and T8+ HNK1- T cells. The long-lasting presence of large numbers of T8+ HNK1+ T cells in patients who had CMV reactivation/reinfection suggests a continuing interaction between the virus and the immune system of its host.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D002648:Child; D003524:Cyclosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D007938:Leukemia / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D003524:Cyclosporins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D008727:Methotrexate