title: Changes in the immune responses against human herpesvirus-8 in the disease course of posttransplant Kaposi sarcoma.
abstract: In nine patients with posttransplant Kaposi sarcoma (KS) T-cell responses to human herpesvirus (HHV)-8 latent and lytic antigens, as detected by enzyme-linked-immunospot (Elispot) assay, were absent at disease onset. Virus-specific T-cell responses were detected in six renal recipients at remission after a reduction of calcineurin inhibitors (CIs), and in two HHV-8 seropositive renal recipients without KS. In two liver recipients undergoing switch from CIs to sirolimus (SRL), normalization of the T-cell repertoire and recovery of both HHV-8-specific effector and memory T lymphocytes were associated with complete KS remission. In a renal recipient undergoing SRL conversion, the early recovery of HHV-8-specific effector but not of memory T lymphocytes, was associated only with partial remission. Neither rejection nor changes in graft function were observed after SRL conversion. HHV-8-specific T-cell responses are required to achieve posttransplant KS remission, and may be restored under SRL, while maintaining effective immunosuppression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology and Hematology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Azienda Ospedaliera Policlinico, Via del Pozzo 71, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barozzi
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bonini
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Potenza
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masetti
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cappelli
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gruarin
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Whitby
authors.forename: Giorgio E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Gerunda
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mondino
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Riva
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vallerini
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Quadrelli
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bosco
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ciceri
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bordignon
authors.forename: Thomas F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Torelli
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luppi
mesh_terms: D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000276:immunology*; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents