title: First analysis of human herpesvirus 6T-cell responses: specific boosting after HHV6 reactivation in stem cell transplantation recipients.
abstract: Early human herpesvirus 6 (HHV6) reactivation after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is associated with poor survival. We characterized HHV6 immuneresponses in HSCT patients during lymphopenia. Prospectively, HHV6 DNA-load was measured weekly by realtime-PCR. Numbers of IFNγ-producing HHV6-T-cells were retrospectively determined by enzyme-linked immunospot assay 2 months after HSCT. HHV6-specific T-cell proliferative capacity was analyzed with a newly developed assay using antigen-presenting autologous HHV6-infected PBMC. Fifty-six patients were included (median age 4.6 years; range 0.2-21.2 years). HHV6-reactivation occurred in 29/56 (52%) patients with a median time of 14 (range 1-41) days after HSCT. The median number of IFN-γ producing HHV6-specific T-cells at 2 months and the HHV6-specific CD8+ T-cell proliferative capacity at 6 months after HSCT was increased after HHV6-reactivation compared to non-reactivating patients (P=0.006 and p=0.019). In conclusion, HHV6-specific immuneresponses can be initiated during lymphopenia early after HSCT, which implicates a potential window for development of HHV6-specific (immuno)therapy.
authors: Dept. of Immunology, Hematology and SCT, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors: A P J
authors: AP
authors: de Pagter
authors: J J
authors: JJ
authors: Boelens
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Scherrenburg
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Vroom-de Blank
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Tesselaar
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Nanlohy
authors: E A M
authors: EA
authors: Sanders
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Schuurman
authors: D
authors: D
authors: van Baarle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D008231:Lymphopenia / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019349:Roseolovirus Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D014775:Virus Activation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D007371:Interferon-gamma