Immunosuppressive FK506 treatment leads to more frequent EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disease in humanized mice

PLoS Pathog. 2020 Apr 6;16(4):e1008477. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008477. eCollection 2020 Apr.

Abstract

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is a potentially fatal complication after organ transplantation frequently associated with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Immunosuppressive treatment is thought to allow the expansion of EBV-infected B cells, which often express all eight oncogenic EBV latent proteins. Here, we assessed whether HLA-A2 transgenic humanized NSG mice treated with the immunosuppressant FK506 could be used to model EBV-PTLD. We found that FK506 treatment of EBV-infected mice led to an elevated viral burden, more frequent tumor formation and diminished EBV-induced T cell responses, indicative of reduced EBV-specific immune control. EBV latency III and lymphoproliferation-associated cellular transcripts were up-regulated in B cells from immunosuppressed animals, akin to the viral and host gene expression pattern found in EBV-PTLD. Utilizing an unbiased gene expression profiling approach, we identified genes differentially expressed in B cells of EBV-infected animals with and without FK506 treatment. Upon investigating the most promising candidates, we validated sCD30 as a marker of uncontrolled EBV proliferation in both humanized mice and in pediatric patients with EBV-PTLD. High levels of sCD30 have been previously associated with EBV-PTLD in patients. As such, we believe that humanized mice can indeed model aspects of EBV-PTLD development and may prove useful for the safety assessment of immunomodulatory therapies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • DNA, Viral
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / virology
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling / methods
  • HLA-A2 Antigen
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / genetics
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / metabolism
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / pathogenicity
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / pharmacology
  • Lymphoproliferative Disorders / immunology*
  • Lymphoproliferative Disorders / virology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Organ Transplantation / adverse effects
  • Tacrolimus / pharmacology*
  • Transcriptome / genetics
  • Viral Load

Substances

  • DNA, Viral
  • HLA-A2 Antigen
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Tacrolimus