Cutting edge: identification of hepatitis C virus-specific CD8+ T cells restricted by donor HLA alleles following liver transplantation.
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.
Rosen
Hugo R
HR
Hepatology and Liver Transplantation Program, Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center/Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, OR 97207, USA. rosenhu@ohsu.edu
Hinrichs
David J
DJ
Leistikow
Rachel L
RL
Callender
Glenda
G
Wertheimer
Anne M
AM
Nishimura
Michael I
MI
Lewinsohn
David M
DM
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
D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen