Activated virus-specific T cells are early indicators of anti-CMV immune reactions in liver transplant patients
2002; Elsevier BV; Volume: 122; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1053/gast.2002.33021
ISSN1528-0012
AutoresChristine Benz, Olaf Utermöhlen, A. Wulf, Brigitte Villmow, Volker Dries, Tobias Goeser, Ulrich H. Koszinowski, Dirk H. Busch,
Tópico(s)T-cell and B-cell Immunology
ResumoBackground & Aims: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection represents the most common infectious complication after liver transplantation. Because CMV-associated complications in liver transplantation patients are often liver-restricted and clinically unrecognized, diagnosis of early infection or reactivation is still very difficult. Because cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) are crucial for the immune control of CMV, analysis of virus-specific CTLs could contribute to diagnosis and management of CMV infection. Methods: Major histocompatibility complex class I tetramers and intracellular cytokine staining were used to determine frequencies and phenotypes of peripheral blood CMV/pp65-specific CD8+ T cells in HLA-A2, -B7, and -B35 positive liver transplantation patients and in healthy individuals. Results: After liver transplantation (6–33 months after liver transplantation), frequencies of CMV-specific T cells were significantly elevated compared with healthy individuals. In contrast to immunoglobulin (Ig) M–negative patients and healthy blood donors, patients with increasing CMV IgM titers or IgG seroconversion had high percentages of activated (CD38high) CMV-specific T cells. In recently transplanted patients, activation of CMV-specific T cells was associated with increased transaminases and histopathological abnormalities in the absence of positive CMV–polymerase chain reaction results from peripheral blood. Conclusions: These data indicate that T-cell analysis based on MHC tetramer staining may be a valuable parameter in the early diagnosis of CMV-induced, liver-restricted complications after liver transplantation.GASTROENTEROLOGY 2002;122:1201-1215
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