Evaluation of host cellular responses to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in adult lung transplant patients with EBV-associated diseases.

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)reactivation is commonly observed in lung transplant recipients (LTRs).However, cellular immune responses to EBV in adult LTRs have not been well described. We aimed to study CD4/CD8ratio, EBV-specificT cells polyfunctional responses and phenotypic changes in natural killer (NK)cells in adult LTRs presenting with EBV-associateddiseases. The CD4/CD8ratio was significantly decreased in LTRs with EBV DNAemia compared withLTRs without EBV DNAemia and healthy controls (HCs).Stimulation with EBV lytic antigen BZLF1 peptide pools induced significant individual and polyfunctional responses from CD8+ CD69+ T cells. Frequencies of CD8+ CD69+ T cells expressing CD107a were significantly higher in LTRs without EBV DNAemia than in LTRs with DNAemia. Frequencies of CD8+ CD69+ T cells concurrently expressing CD107a, IFN-γ,and TNF-αwere significantly greater in LTRs with and without EBV DNAemia than in HCs. Finally, BZLF1 induced significantly higher frequencies of CD8+ CD69+ T cells expressing CD107a and IFN-γin LTRs without EBV DNAemia when compared withEBNA3B. Frequency of more differentiated CD56dim CD16pos NK cells was significantly decreased in LTRs with EBV DNAemia and PTLD compared withHCs. In conclusion, we noted the presence of significant changes in circulating cellular immune responses to EBV in adult LTRs.