Cellular immune responses to BK virus.
OBJECTIVE
Defects in cellular immunity to persistent viral infections are associated with an increased frequency and severity of viral diseases after transplantation. Polyomavirus BK (BKV) infection has emerged as an important cause of virus-related nephropathy after kidney allograft. Cell-mediated immunity seems to have a central role in preserving BKV latency. However, characterization of BKV-specific immunity has only recently begun.


RESULTS
Immune responses to BKV are not fully understood, but pioneer work points to cell-mediated immunity as a critical factor for the control of viral replication and recovery from BKV disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Advances in immunological techniques will provide further insight into the specificity and patterns of cellular response to BKV, which should assist translation into improved patient management and development of immunotherapeutic approaches.
Comoli
Patrizia
P
Laboratory of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Transplantation, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
Hirsch
Hans H
HH
Ginevri
Fabrizio
F
D000818:Animals; D001739:BK Virus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D007159:Immunologic Tests; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D019562:Viral Load; D017735:Virus Latency; D014779:Virus Replication
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents