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.
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.
Tania
T
Crough
Chrysa
C
Fazou
Julissa
J
Weiss
Scott
S
Campbell
Miles P
MP
Davenport
Scott C
SC
Bell
Andrew
A
Galbraith
Keith
K
McNeil
Rajiv
R
Khanna
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