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Updated: Jul 5, 2025
Generation of Multivirus-specific T Cells to Prevent/treat Viral Infections after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant
Published on: May 27, 2011
A new way of identifying viral pathogens reactivating in cellular therapy products
Anthony L Cunningham1, Kenneth Micklethwaite1
1Centres for Virus Research and Cancer Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia.
Abstract:
In this article, we discuss a recently published article that demonstrated a novel way of identifying viral pathogens reactivating in human cells to be used as cellular therapy, in this instance chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells. The authors used search engines and databases to identify viruses able to reactivate in T cells and then tested this initially in T-cell cultures, specifically human herpesvirus 6. This virus was then shown to reactivate infrequently in vitro and in vivo in CAR T cells as a consequence of T-cell activation. The methodology may be most clinically useful for more frequently reactivating viruses in other types of cellular therapy such as allogenic CAR T cells or induced pluripotent stem cells.
Insights
Researchers identified viruses that reactivate in human cells for cellular therapy. They found human herpesvirus 6 infrequently reactivates in chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells after activation.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Cellular Therapy
Background:
- Viral reactivation poses a risk in cellular therapies.
- Identifying such viruses is crucial for patient safety and therapy efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a method for identifying viral pathogens that can reactivate in human cells used for therapy.
- To assess the reactivation potential of specific viruses in chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells.
Main Methods:
- Utilized search engines and databases to identify potentially reactivating viruses.
- Tested viral reactivation in T-cell cultures, focusing on human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6).
- Evaluated viral reactivation in vitro and in vivo within CAR T cells.
Main Results:
- Human herpesvirus 6 was identified as a virus capable of reactivation.
- HHV-6 reactivation was observed infrequently in CAR T cells following T-cell activation.
- The study demonstrated a novel methodology for detecting viral reactivation in cellular therapy products.
Conclusions:
- The developed methodology can identify viral pathogens that reactivate in cellular therapies.
- HHV-6 reactivation is infrequent in CAR T cells but warrants monitoring.
- This approach holds potential clinical utility for other cellular therapies like allogeneic CAR T cells and induced pluripotent stem cells.
