title: Cutting edge: identification of hepatitis C virus-specific CD8+ T cells restricted by donor HLA alleles following liver transplantation.
abstract: By necessity, human liver transplantation is performed across HLA barriers. As a result, intracellular infection of the allograft presents a unique immunologic challenge for the recipient's immune system. In this study, we describe the presence of HLA-A2-restricted, hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific CD8+ T cells in liver transplant recipients in whom the allograft is HLA-A2 positive and the recipient is HLA-A2 negative. These memory-effector T cells are recipient derived and recognize HCV peptide uniquely in the context of HLA-A2. Furthermore, these cells were absent before the transplant, suggesting that the allograft is capable of selectively expanding naive CD8+ T cells. The in vitro specificity to donor HLA allele-restricted CD8+ T cells suggests that these cells may function to control HCV spread in the allograft.
authors.affiliation: Hepatology and Liver Transplantation Program, Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center/Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, OR 97207, USA. rosenhu@ohsu.edu
authors.forename: Hugo R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hinrichs
authors.forename: Rachel L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Leistikow
authors.forename: Glenda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Callender
authors.forename: Anne M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Wertheimer
authors.forename: Michael I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Lewinsohn
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000235:genetics; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002999:Clone Cells; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen