The role of CD4(+) T cells in BKV-specific T cell immunity

Med Microbiol Immunol. 2014 Dec;203(6):395-408. doi: 10.1007/s00430-014-0348-z. Epub 2014 Jul 23.

Abstract

Reactivation of polyomavirus BK (BKV) infection represents a severe complication in kidney transplant (KTX) patients. We previously reported an association between a declining BK viral load and the reconstitution of CD4(+) T cell BKV-specific immunity in patients following kidney transplantation. However, the specific contribution of CD4(+) T cells in the regulation of BKV-replication is unknown. Nevertheless, in vitro enrichment of BKV-specific T cells and subsequent adoptive T cell transfer may improve the restoration of immune competence in KTX patients with BKV infection. To date, strategies to capture human BKV-specific T cells with the ensuing expansion to clinically useful numbers are lacking. Here, we demonstrated a comprehensive flow cytometric analysis of the BKV-specific T cell response that permits access to the majority of T cells specific for immunodominant BKV antigens. A full-spectrum evaluation of the BKV-specific T cell response was performed by stimulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with a mixture of BKV immunodominant peptide pools at varying concentrations and measuring activation marker expression and cytokine secretion. We also examined the effects of co-stimulation and PBMC resting time prior to activation. We defined the narrow range of stimulation conditions that permit the capture and expansion of functional BKV-specific T cell lines. The generated BKV-specific T cell lines showed the highest specificity and functionality when the T cells were captured according to IFNγ-secretion. This study highlights the multifunctional and cytolytic BKV-specific CD4(+) T cells as a dominant population within the generated T cell product. This method offers a novel approach for the generation of BKV-specific T cell lines for adoptive immunotherapy and underscores the critical role of CD4(+) T cells in the clearance of BKV.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • BK Virus / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Kidney Transplantation
  • Polyomavirus Infections / immunology*
  • Polyomavirus Infections / virology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • Transplant Recipients
  • Tumor Virus Infections / immunology*
  • Tumor Virus Infections / virology