title: Epstein-Barr virus T-cell immunity despite rituximab.
abstract: Immunosuppression following solid organ transplantation results in impaired T-cell immunity and risk of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD). The B-cell targeting antibody rituximab has efficacy in PTLD. As B cells are the principle reservoir for EBV, we investigated the effect of rituximab on the persistence of EBV-specific CD8(+) T-cell immunity. To avoid the confounding factor of concurrent immunosuppression to prevent transplant rejection, immunity was analysed in non-transplanted lymphoma patients (i.e. a non-PTLD setting). Cytomegalovirus-specific T-cell immunity was assessed as an internal control. Our data demonstrated that circulating B cells were not critical for maintaining EBV-specific T-cell immunity.
authors.affiliation: EBV Biology Laboratory, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Angela K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Nehring
authors.forename: Ujjwal
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dua
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mollee
authors.forename: Devinder
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Grimmett
authors.forename: Rajiv
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Khanna
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moss
authors.forename: Maher K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Gandhi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069283:Rituximab; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000069283:Rituximab