A Longitudinal Study of γδ T Cell Subsets Post Lung Transplant: Potential Players in CMV Immunity

Abstract

Purpose Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the predominant opportunistic infection in lung transplant (LTx) recipients and there is a need to develop biomarkers that indicate CMV immunity. To this end, we have recently reported that natural killer (NK) cells expressing the activating receptor, CD94-NKG2C, may be important in the control of CMV following LTx. γδ T cells can also aid in CMV immunity, yet their role following LTx is unknown. In this study, we longitudinally assessed the phenotype of γδ T cells in the blood of LTx recipients with and without CMV reactivation. Methods Cryopreserved peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from LTx recipients treated at the Alfred Hospital were examined by..