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Updated: May 21, 2026

Measurement of BK-polyomavirus Non-Coding Control Region Driven Transcriptional Activity Via Flow Cytometry
Published on: July 13, 2019
Renal dysfunction by BK virus infection is correlated with activated T cell level in renal transplantation
Ming-Che Lee1, Ming-Chi Lu, Ning-Sheng Lai
1Department of Surgery, Buddhist Hualien Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan; Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
Background:
BK virus (BKV) is known to be associated with nephropathy. Here, we investigated the relationships between BKV levels, T-cell activation, and kidney function in kidney transplant recipients.
Materials And Methods:
In renal transplant patients and controls, urine BKV levels were detected by quantitative real-time PCR, and the percentage of activated T lymphocytes in blood was determined by flow cytometry. The correlations between viral load, activated T cell percentage, and renal function were determined.
Results:
Urine BKV viral loads and the activated T cell percentage were significantly elevated in transplant recipients. Correlational analysis indicated that transplant recipients that had BKV levels of more than 10(6) copies/mL and an activated T lymphocyte percentage of less than 20% were likely to have poor renal function.
Conclusions:
Urine BKV levels and the percentage of activated T lymphocytes can be used as clinical indices to optimize the dosage of immunosuppressive drugs.
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