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Expanding Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes from Umbilical Cord Blood that Target Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr Virus, and Adenovirus
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Identification of effector-memory CMV-specific T lymphocytes that kill CMV-infected target cells in an

Paola Mazzarino1, Gabriella Pietra, Paola Vacca

  • 1Dipartimento di Oncologia, Biologia e Genetica, Università degli Studi di Genova, Genova, Italy.

European Journal of Immunology
|October 15, 2005
PubMed

HLA-E-restricted T cells represent a minor cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL) population characterized by the surface expression of HLA class I-specific inhibitory receptors and by the capability of killing a large panel of allogeneic target cells (therefore named NK-CTL). Here we show that this subset of T cells is present in a sizeable fraction in the peripheral blood of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-seropositive healthy individuals. We provide evidence that NK-CTL recognize in an HLA-E-restricted fashion a naturally processed CMV-derived peptide in the transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP)-2(-/-) UL40+ RMA-S cell transfectants. Moreover, we show that they recognize and kill HCMV-infected target cells. NK-CTL are characterized by the CD8beta(dull) (CD45RA+)(CD28-)(CD27-)(CCR7-)(CD56+) surface phenotype, thus suggesting that they belong to the effector-memory cell compartment. Consistent with the effector-memory phenotype, they promptly produce IFN-gamma, but not IL-2, upon interaction with the specific HCMV UL40-derived peptide. Our data suggest that HLA-E-restricted CTL may represent an additional effector cell type involved in defenses against HCMV, a virus which escapes the control exerted by conventional CTL or NK cells.

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