*Purpose: Cell-mediated immunity plays an important role in controlling human adenovirus (HAdV) infection after kidney transplantation (KT). We investigated T cell lymphocyte subsets and HAdV-specific T cell responses in KT recipients diagnosed with HAdV infection.

*Methods: We conducted a prospective study (January 2015 to June 2018). Interferon (IFN)-γ-producing CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells were measured at diagnosis and at viral clearance, by an intracellular cytokine assay after stimulating with HAdV whole lysate, and hexon (HAdV-3) and penton (HAdV-5) proteins.

*Results: Eighteen adult KT recipients were diagnosed with HAdV infection at a median of 16 months (IQR, 2-39 months) after KT. The absolute lymphocyte count at viral clearance was significantly higher compared with diagnosis (2,257 cells/µL [IQR, 1,544-3078] vs. 1,001 cells/µL [IQR, 641-1,385]; p<0.001). Eleven patients underwent measurement of the HAdV-specific T cell response. The median numbers of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells at viral clearance were significantly higher compared with diagnosis (448 vs. 215 cells/µL; p=0.02 and 623 vs. 235 cells/µL; p<0.01, respectively). The median percentages of HAdV-5-specific CD4⁺ and HAdV-3-specific CD8⁺ T cells at viral clearance were significantly higher compared with diagnosis (0.012 vs. 0; p=0.03 and 0.136 vs. 0.016; p=0.003, respectively), Figure 1.

*Conclusions: Our findings suggest a trend of HAdV-specific T cell immune restoration in KT recipients who achieve successful viral clearance. Our study supports a potential role of virus-specific T cell immune monitoring to optimize management of HAdV in KT recipients.

« Back to 2019 American Transplant Congress