Association of the costimulatory molecule gene polymorphisms and active cytomegalovirus infection in hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients

Abstract

Determinative associations may exist between costimulatory molecule gene polymorphisms with a variety of post hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) viral related clinical outcomes especially acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD). Therefore in this study the associations between costimulatory molecule gene polymorphisms including: cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA4), programmed cell death-1 (PD-1), inducible T cell costimulator (ICOS), and cluster differentiation 28 (CD28) with active cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection were evaluated in HSCT patients. The 72 allogeneic HSCT patients with and without aGVHD were enrolled in this cross sectional study between years: 2004-2011. The single nucleotide polymorphisms in loci of the costimulatory molecules including: CTLA4 gene (-318 C/T, 1722 T/C, 1661 A/G, +49 A/G), PD-1 gene (PD-1.3 A/G, PD-1.9 C/T), ICOS gene (1720 C/T), and CD28 gene (+17 C/T) were analyzed in studied HSCT patients by PCR-RFLP methods. The active CMV infection was evaluated in fresh EDTA-treated blood samples of each allogeneic HSCT patients by CMV antigenemia kit according to manufacturer's instruction. Active CMV infection was found in 11 of 72 (15.27 %) of allogeneic HSCT patients. The T allele and TT genotype of the CD28 +17 C/T were significantly higher frequency in active CMV infected allogeneic HSCT patients experienced aGVHD. The G allele and GG genotype of the CTLA4 -1661 A/G were significantly higher frequent in active CMV infected allogeneic HSCT patients experienced low grade of aGVHD. Finally, finding of significant associations between CD28 +17 C/T and CTLA4 -1661 A/G genotypes with CMV active infection in allogeneic HSCT patients experienced aGVHD emphasize on the importance of the genetic pattern of costimulatory genes in outcomes of active CMV infection in HSCT patients needs completed studies.