HCMV-specific T-cell therapy: do not forget supply of help

J Immunother. 2013 Feb;36(2):93-101. doi: 10.1097/CJI.0b013e31827b87cc.

Abstract

Human cytomegalovirus infections have a major negative effect on morbidity and mortality of immunosuppressed allograft recipients and indirectly on graft function and survival. The adoptive antiviral T-cell therapy is a novel therapeutic tool to restore immune competence after solid organ transplantation. Till now, the antiviral T-cell products mainly focused on cytotoxic CD8(+) T cells, whereas CD4(+) T cells played a minor role. Here, we demonstrate the importance of CD4(+) T cells within T-cell lines specific for human cytomegalovirus besides its essential support for the quality of CD8(+) T-cell memory. Virus-specific CD4(+) T cells elicit profound functionality after rechallenge (multicytokine secretors, CD137, CD154, and CD107a expression and killing of infected target cells). The CD4(+) T cells show predominantly a Th1 phenotype with cytolytic properties that is mainly perforin-dependent. The data demonstrate the significance of CD4(+) T cells within T-cell products to achieve a successful adoption with enhanced efficacy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / transplantation
  • CD40 Ligand / metabolism
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / transplantation
  • Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cytomegalovirus / immunology*
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / immunology*
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / therapy*
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / virology
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy, Adoptive*
  • Lysosomal-Associated Membrane Protein 1 / metabolism
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 9 / metabolism

Substances

  • Lysosomal-Associated Membrane Protein 1
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 9
  • CD40 Ligand