title: Increased levels of PD-1 expression on CD8 T cells in patients post-renal transplant irrespective of chronic high EBV viral load.
abstract: Studies have identified solid organ transplant recipients who remain asymptomatic despite maintaining CHL. Factors which determine the CHL state remain poorly understood but are likely to involve immunological control of the viral infection. We monitored expression of PD-1, a marker of T-cell exhaustion and viral persistence, on CD8 T cells in patients who resolved EBV infection as determined by undetectable EBV DNA (REI) and CHL patients. PD-1 expression on CD8 T cells was increased in the first year post-transplant irrespective of EBV outcome, and most CD8 T cells continued to express PD-1 for up to three yr post-transplant. Although all patient groups showed similar frequencies of EBV-specific CD8+ T cells, PD-1 expression on these cells increased in the post-transplant groups compared with the pretransplant patients. Functional studies of EBV-specific CD8+ T cells stimulated with BZLF or LMP2 peptide pools revealed monofunctional IFN-γ responses. Our results indicate that PD-1 expression on CD8 T cells post-transplant may result from factors other than antigenic stimulation.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland; National Virus Reference Laboratory, School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moran
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dean
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Oliveira
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Connell
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Riordan
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Connell
authors.forename: Atif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Awan
authors.forename: William W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Jaythoon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hassan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000379:methods; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D011184:Postoperative Period; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / Q000378:metabolism*; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; C105992:PDCD1 protein, human; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor; D007371:Interferon-gamma
keywords: CD8+ T cell; EBV; cytokines