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Activated virus-specific T cells are early indicators of anti-CMV immune reactions in liver transplant patients
- Source :
- Gastroenterology; May 2002, Vol. 122 Issue: 5 p1201-1215, 15p
- Publication Year :
- 2002
-
Abstract
- Background & 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 (CD38^h^i^g^h) 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, liverrestricted complications after liver transplantation.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00165085 and 15280012
- Volume :
- 122
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- Supplemental Index
- Journal :
- Gastroenterology
- Publication Type :
- Periodical
- Accession number :
- ejs11055827
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1053/gast.2002.33021