BY55/CD160 cannot be considered a cytotoxic marker in cytomegalovirus-specific human CD8(+) T cells.
CD160/BY55 is a glucosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored cell membrane receptor that is expressed primarily in natural killer (NK) cells. Its presence in CD8(+) T lymphocytes is considered to be a marker of cytotoxic activity, although there are few data in this regard. In the present work, we analysed the expression of CD160 in subpopulations of cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific CD8(+) T cells. Subpopulations were defined by CD28 and CD57 expression and exhibited varying degrees of differentiation and cytotoxic potential, as evaluated by the expression of perforin, interferon (IFN)-gamma and interleukin (IL)-7Ralpha/CD127. We included subjects with different intensities of anti-viral immune response. Results showed that the terminally differentiated CD28(-) CD57(+) subset displaying the highest level of perforin expressed CD160 at a level similar to that of memory CD28(+) CD57(-)perforin(-) cells. A comparison of the expression of perforin in CD160(+) cells versus CD160(-) cells showed that expression was significantly higher in the absence of CD160. Interestingly, the CMV-specific CD8(+) T cell subset from a patient with ongoing CMV reactivation did not begin to express CD160 until day +92 of the follow-up period. Taken together, our data show that CD160 cannot be considered a cytotoxic marker in CMV-specific CD8(+) T cells.
Merino
J
J
Department of Immunology, Clínica Universitaria, University of Navarra, Navarra, Spain. jmerino@unav.es
Ramírez
N
N
Moreno
C
C
Toledo
E
E
Fernández
M
M
Sánchez-Ibarrola
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000097:blood; D018959:CD57 Antigens / Q000097:blood; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D054353:Perforin; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins / Q000097:blood; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000097:blood*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015415:Biomarkers; C114505:CD160 protein, human; D018106:CD28 Antigens; D018959:CD57 Antigens; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D054353:Perforin