title: Donor Vδ1+ γδ T cells expand after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and show reactivity against CMV-infected cells but not against progressing B-CLL.
abstract: γδ T lymphocytes play an important role in immune reactions towards infections and malignancies. In particular, Vγ9-Vδ1+ T lymphocytes are thought to play protective antiviral roles in human CMV infection. Recently, Vδ1+ T lymphocytes were proposed to also have anti- B-CLL reactivity. Here we report a case of 48-year-old man who received allogeneic stem cell transplantation for progressive B-CLL. Within one year after transplantation, lymphoma relapsed despite a dramatic increase of Vδ1+ T cells in the patient's blood. In vitro killing assays revealed activity of patient's γδ cells against CMV target cells, but not against the relapsing lymphoma-cells. This argues for a contribution of Vδ1+ cells in the immune reaction against CMV reactivation, but does not support a strong correlation of expanded Vδ1+ T cells and favorable disease outcome in B-CLL patients.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. prinz.immo@mh-hannover.de.
authors.forename: Immo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Prinz
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thamm
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Port
authors.forename: Eva M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Weissinger
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stadler
authors.forename: Ildar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gabaev
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: Arnold
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ganser
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koenecke