Functional specific-T-cell expansion after first cytomegalovirus reactivation predicts viremia control in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients

Background The use of preemptive antiviral therapy to prevent cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT) recipients might result in over-treatment, inducing drug-related toxicity and viral resistance. A search for predictive markers is needed, to determine requirement for antiviral therapy. Clinical follow-up, in combination with the use of streptamers (STs) and cytokine-intracellular staining, could help to identify patients at high risk for CMV reactivations. Patients and methods To study the immune response and reactivation control by CMV-specific CD8+ T-cell (CMV-CTL) populations, we monitored 25 patients who have undergone allo-HSCT by using ST multimer and intracellular cytokine staining. Results Our study has revealed that the presence of functional CMV-specific T cells, determined by early interferon ɣ-production or by significant T-cell expansion after first CMV reactivation, correlated with short CMV viremia duration and low number of CMV reactivations. By contrast, the absence of functional CMV-CTL does correlate with CMV recurrence. Conclusion These results support that behavior of CMV-specific subpopulations after reactivation influences reactivations and can guide preemptive therapy.