Open AccessSpontaneous outgrowth of EBV‐transformed B‐cells reflects EBV‐specffic immunity in vivo; a useful tool in the follow‐up of EBV‐driven immunoproliferative disorders in allograft recipients
Author(s) -
Vossen Mireille T.M.,
Gent MiRan,
Davin JeanClaude,
Baars Paul A.,
Wertheimvan Dillen Pauline M.E.,
Weel Jan F.L.,
Roos Marijke T.L.,
Baarle Debbie,
Groothoff Jaap,
Lier René A. W.,
Kuijpers Taco W.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
transplant international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.998
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1432-2277
pISSN - 0934-0874
DOI - 10.1111/j.1432-2277.2004.tb00409.x
Subject(s) - medicine , immunology , epstein–barr virus , immunosuppression , lymphoproliferative disorders , azathioprine , virus , in vivo , cd8 , transplantation , virology , immune system , disease , lymphoma , biology , microbiology and biotechnology
Abstract During immunosuppressive medication, Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) infection is associated with a risk of developing posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD). The appropriateness of a spontaneous EBV B‐cell transformation (SET) assay as a monitor of EBV‐specific immunity was evaluated to investigate if it safely allows reducing immunosuppressive medication, thereby decreasing the risk of developing PTLD. PBMC were isolated longitudinally from 20 pediatric renal allograft recipients treated with prednisone and cyclosporine combined with either azathioprine or mycophenolate mofetil. Most significantly, EBV‐peptide‐specific CD8 + T cells were detectable in the blood of patients with negative SET assays, coinciding with significantly lower EBV loads, whereas these cells were less frequent in the blood of patients with positive SET assays. Reducing the levels of immunosuppression resulted in normalization of the SET assays. Therefore, the SET assay is a reflection of the interaction between viral replication, transformation of B cells, and EBV‐specific immunity in vivo and hence a valuable screening test for EBV‐driven lymphoproliferative phenomena in allograft recipients.