Impact of cytomegalovirus infections on T lymphocyte subsets in children with β-thalassemia major early after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection on T lymphocyte subsets in children with β-thalassemia major (TM) during the initial 6 months after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Allo-HSCT).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January, 2010 to January, 2011, 35 children with TM underwent Allo-HSCT. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from the children 6 month after the transplantation to examine the changes of T lymphocytes subsets in relation to HCMV seropositivity.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Thirteen children were found seropositive and 22 were seronegative for HCMV. The HCMV-seropositive children had a higher CD8⁺ cell percentage but a lower CD4⁺ cell percentage than those without HCMV infection. Compared with those seronegative for HCMV, the children with HCMV seropositivity showed increased percentages of CD8⁺ cells and CD8⁺CD28⁻ cells with a decreased percentage of CD8⁺CD28⁺ cells. A positive linear correlation was found between the percentages of CD8⁺CD28⁻ cells and CD8⁺ cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HCMV infection can lead to the accumulation of CD8⁺CD28 cells to cause increased CD8⁺ T cells in the peripheral blood in TM children after Allo-HSCT. The percentages of CD8⁺CD28⁻ cells has a positive linear correlation to that of CD8⁺ cells.</p>