标题：Activation and adoptive transfer of Epstein–Barr virus-specific cytotoxic T cells in solid organ transplant patients with posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease
期刊名称：Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
印刷版ISSN：0027-8424
电子版ISSN：1091-6490
出版年度：1999
卷号：96
期号：18
页码：10391-10396
DOI：10.1073/pnas.96.18.10391
语种：English
出版社：The National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
摘要：The treatment of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) in EBV seronegative solid organ transplant recipients who acquire their EBV infection after engraftment poses a considerable challenge because of underlying immunosuppression that inhibits the virus-specific cytotoxic T cell (CTL) response in vivo. We have developed a protocol for activating autologous EBV-specific CTL lines from these patients and show their potential use for immunotherapy against PTLD in solid organ transplant patients. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a panel of solid organ transplant recipients with and without active PTLD were used to assess EBV-specific memory CTL responses. The activation protocol involved cocultivation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with an autologous lymphoblastoid cell line under conditions that favored expansion of virus-specific CTL and hindered the proliferation of allospecific T cells. These CTL consistently showed (i) strong EBV-specificity, including reactivity through defined epitopes in spite of concurrent immunosuppressive therapy, and (ii) no alloreactivity toward donor alloantigens. More importantly, adoptive transfer of these autologous CTLs into a single patient with active PTLD was coincident with a very significant regression of the PTLD. These results demonstrate that a potent EBV-specific memory response can be expanded from solid organ recipients who have acquired their primary EBV infection under high levels of immunosuppressive therapy and that these T cells may have therapeutic potential against PTLD.
