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Increased levels of PD ‐1 expression on CD 8 T cells in patients post‐renal transplant irrespective of chronic high EBV viral load
Author(s) -
Moran Julie,
Dean Jonathan,
De Oliveira Andre,
O'Connell Marie,
Riordan Michael,
Connell Jeff,
Awan Atif,
Hall William W.,
Hassan Jaythoon
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
pediatric transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.457
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1399-3046
pISSN - 1397-3142
DOI - 10.1111/petr.12156
Subject(s) - cd8 , medicine , immunology , asymptomatic , viral load , transplantation , immune system , antigen , virus , virology
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 CD 8 T cells in patients who resolved EBV infection as determined by undetectable EBV DNA ( REI ) and CHL patients. PD ‐1 expression on CD 8 T cells was increased in the first year post‐transplant irrespective of EBV outcome, and most CD 8 T cells continued to express PD ‐1 for up to three yr post‐transplant. Although all patient groups showed similar frequencies of EBV ‐specific CD 8+ T cells, PD ‐1 expression on these cells increased in the post‐transplant groups compared with the pretransplant patients. Functional studies of EBV ‐specific CD 8+ T cells stimulated with BZLF or LMP 2 peptide pools revealed monofunctional IFN ‐γ responses. Our results indicate that PD ‐1 expression on CD 8 T cells post‐transplant may result from factors other than antigenic stimulation.