Adaptive NKG2C+ NK cells and cytomegalovirus infection in kidney transplant recipients

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in kidney transplant recipients (KTR) is frequent and may reduce graft and patient survival. T lymphocytes are essential to control the virus, which promotes the adaptive differentiation of NK cells characterized by CD94/NKG2C receptor expression. NKG2C+ NK cells and...

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Bibliographic Details
Author: Ataya Fernández, Michelle
Format: doctoral thesis
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2021
Country:España
Institution:CBUC, CESCA
Repository:TDR. Tesis Doctorales en Red
OAI Identifier:oai:www.tdx.cat:10803/671368
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10803/671368
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:NK cells, T lymphocytes, kidney transplant, infection, cytomegalovirus. Español: Células NK, linfocitos T, trasplante renal, infección, citomegalovirus.
NK cells
T lymphocytes
Kidney transplant
Infection
Cytomegalovirus
Limfocitos T
Transplante renal
Infección
Citomegalovirus
616.6
Description
Summary:Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in kidney transplant recipients (KTR) is frequent and may reduce graft and patient survival. T lymphocytes are essential to control the virus, which promotes the adaptive differentiation of NK cells characterized by CD94/NKG2C receptor expression. NKG2C+ NK cells and T lymphocytes were analyzed in a cohort of CMV seropositive KTR. Pretransplant NKG2C+ NK cells were associated with reduced incidence of symptomatic infection, and appeared unrelated with CMV-specific T cells in a parallel study, indicating that they may contribute to contain infection progression. Moreover, NKG2C+ NK cell expansions of variable magnitude developed following posttransplant infection. The data suggested that they participate in restoring the long-term CMV control, though their relative role could not be appreciated due to the overlapping effects of the infection on the T cell compartment. Combined assessment of T and NKG2C+ NK cells might allow a more precise assessment of CMV infection in KTR.