Symptomatic and asymptomatic viral recrudescence in solid-organ transplant recipients and its relationship with the antigen-specific CD8(+) T-cell response.
Using ex vivo antigen-specific T-cell analysis, we found that symptomatic cytomegalovirus recrudescence in transplant recipients was coincident with reduced expression of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) by virus-specific CD8(+) T cells and an up-regulation of CD38 expression on these T cells, although there was no significant change in the absolute number of virus-specific cells (as assessed by major histocompatibility complex-peptide multimers). In contrast, HLA class I-matched transplant patients with asymptomatic viral recrudescence showed increased expansion of antigen-specific T cells and highly stable IFN-gamma expression by epitope-specific T cells. These studies suggest that a strong functional T-cell response plays a crucial role in defining the clinical outcome of acute viral recrudescence.
Crough
Tania
T
Australian Centre for Vaccine Development and Tumour Immunology Laboratory, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, 300 Herston Road, Brisbane, Queensland 4029, Australia.
Fazou
Chrysa
C
Weiss
Julissa
J
Campbell
Scott
S
Davenport
Miles P
MP
Bell
Scott C
SC
Galbraith
Andrew
A
McNeil
Keith
K
Khanna
Rajiv
R
D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 / Q000032:analysis; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000209:etiology; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014775:Virus Activation
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1