CD57+ T cells augment IFN-gamma production in a one-way mixed lymphocyte reaction and their expansion after stem cell transplantation in paediatric patients.
To clarify the immune response of CD57+ T cells (most of them are CD8+) in peripheral blood (PB) against alloantigens in order to elucidate the T helper 1 (Th 1) immune response, we assessed the role of CD57+ T cells in IFN-gamma (one of the representative Th 1 cytokines) production in a one-way mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). In this study, we showed that CD57+ T cells in responder cells were essential for effective IFN-gamma production in allogeneic MLR due partly to the augmentation of the alloresponse of regular T cells. Furthermore, IFN-gamma production in MLR correlated with the proportions of CD57+ T cells in PB regardless of the responders' age. We also showed that the extent of the expansion of CD57+ T cells in paediatric patients after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) was markedly lower than that in adult patients. In addition, CD57+ T cells purified and activated with a combination of cytokines showed a greater cytotoxicity than regular T cells against human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Because IFN-gamma production in one-way MLR is a useful predictor of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), especially in the acute phase that occurs after allogeneic HSCT, our findings suggested that CD57+ T cells play a role in the development of GVHD and thus may explain the reason as to why a higher donor age is associated with an increased risk of developing GVHD while, in addition, the incidence of severe GVHD in paediatric patients is lower than that in adult patients.
Koike
Y
Y
Departments of Paediatrics and Microbiology, National Defense Medical College, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Tokyo, Japan.
Seki
S
S
Ohkawa
T
T
Kaneko
T
T
Kogawa
K
K
Fujitsuka
S
S
Hiraide
H
H
Sekine
I
I
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D018959:CD57 Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D007519:Isoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D012306:Risk; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
D018959:CD57 Antigens; D007519:Isoantigens; D007371:Interferon-gamma