CMV infection is associated with the depletion but lack of activation of peripheral blood natural killer cells in a lung transplant cohort.
BACKGROUND
Following lung transplantation, cytomegalovirus (CMV) has both direct and indirect adverse effects on the allograft. Natural killer cells mediate immune responses to CMV. This can be both dependent and independent of MHC class I expression. However, their role during CMV infection following lung transplantation is unknown. In this study, the immunophenotypic characteristics of NK cells were correlated with CMV infection following lung transplantation.


METHODS
Seventy lung transplant recipients were included in the study. NK cells were characterised via flow cytometric analysis of CD3, CD16, CD56, CD107a, CD107b, and CD161. CMV infection was determined using an established quantitative PCR technique on peripheral blood.


RESULTS
The number of peripheral blood NK cells with CD16, CD56 and CD161 phenotypes decreased in patients with CMV infection. However, there were no correlations between CMV infection and NK cell activation determined via LAMP expression.


CONCLUSIONS
This study reports comparative differences in the peripheral blood NK cell repertoire in lung transplant recipients with CMV infection versus those without. However, NK cell activity did not alter with CMV infection, suggesting that CMV infection alone does not induce an NK cell response.
Fildes
J E
JE
The Transplant Centre, University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, M23 9LT, UK. james.fildes@manchester.ac.uk
Walker
A H
AH
Williams
S G
SG
Yonan
N
N
Leonard
C T
CT
D000328:Adult; D002452:Cell Count; D017637:Clonal Deletion / Q000276:immunology; D003587:Cytomegalovirus; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
D006680:HLA Antigens