Major expansion of gammadelta T lymphocytes following cytomegalovirus infection in kidney allograft recipients.
In normal persons, circulating gammadelta T cells comprise a minor cell subset (0.5%-6% of total lymphocytes). gammadelta T cells were studied in the context of therapeutic immunosuppression in transplanted patients. Flow cytometry detected an expansion of gammadelta T cells in 31 of 205 renal allograft recipients and in 2 of 41 uremic patients but in none of 45 healthy subjects. Univariate statistical analysis identified cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection (P<. 001), second graft (P<.001), and antithymocyte globulin treatment (P=.01) as three variables associated with high levels (>=6%) of circulating gammadelta T cells in allograft recipients. Multivariate analysis further indicated that CMV infection was the only independent parameter associated with >6% gammadelta T cells. gammadelta T cell expansion directly followed CMV infection and was never observed in persons who did not develop CMV infection. Thus gammadelta T cells may represent a first-line defense mechanism against CMV infection in a person whose alphabeta T cell response has been weakened by immunosuppression.
Déchanet
J
J
Université Bordeaux 2, Bât. 1B, 146 rue Léo Saignat, Cedex, France.
Merville
P
P
Bergé
F
F
Bone-Mane
G
G
Taupin
J L
JL
Michel
P
P
Joly
P
P
Bonneville
M
M
Potaux
L
L
Moreau
J F
JF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000009:adverse effects; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000378:metabolism*; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D014511:Uremia / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery
D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta