Expanded clinical-grade NK cells exhibit stronger effects than primary NK cells against HCMV infection.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation remains a common complication and leads to high mortality in patients who undergo allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Early natural killer (NK) cell reconstitution may protect against the development of human CMV (HCMV) infection post-HSCT. Our previous data showed that ex vivo mbIL21/4-1BBL-expanded NK cells exhibited high cytotoxicity against leukemia cells. Nevertheless, whether expanded NK cells have stronger anti-HCMV function is unknown. Herein, we compared the anti-HCMV functions of ex vivo expanded NK cells and primary NK cells. Expanded NK cells showed higher expression of activating receptors, chemokine receptors and adhesion molecules; stronger cytotoxicity against HCMV-infected fibroblasts; and better inhibition of HCMV propagation in vitro than primary NK cells. In HCMV-infected humanized mice, expanded NK cell infusion resulted in higher NK cell persistence and more effective tissue HCMV elimination than primary NK cell infusion. A clinical cohort of 20 post-HSCT patients who underwent adoptive NK cell infusion had a significantly lower cumulative incidence of HCMV infection (HR = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.32-0.93, p = 0.042) and refractory HCMV infection (HR = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.18-0.65, p = 0.009) than controls and better NK cell reconstitution on day 30 post NK cell infusion. In conclusion, expanded NK cells exhibit stronger effects than primary NK cells against HCMV infection both in vivo and in vitro.

Comparable anti-CMV responses of transplant donor and third-party CMV-specific T cells for treatment of CMV infection after allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

Adoptive transfer of cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CMV-CTLs) from original transplant donors or third-party donors was effective for the treatment of CMV infection after allogenic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT), but the antiviral activity of CMV-CTL types has not been compared. To determine whether third-party CMV-CTLs provide comparable long-term antiviral efficacy to transplant donor CMV-CTLs, we first compared the antiviral abilities of transplant donors and third-party CMV-CTLs for treatment of CMV infection in two mouse models, compared the in vivo recovery of CMV-specific immunity, and analyzed the underlying mechanisms driving sustained antiviral immunity. The results showed that both donor and third-party CMV-CTLs effectively combated systemic CMV infection by reducing CMV pathology and tumor burden 28 days postinfusion. The in vivo recovery of CMV-specific immunity after CMV-CTL infusion was comparable in both groups. A detailed analysis of the source of recovered CMV-CTLs showed the proliferation and expansion of graft-derived endogenous CMV-CTLs in both groups. Our clinical study, which enrolled 31 patients who received third-party CMV-CTLs and 62 matched pairs of individuals who received transplant donor CMV-CTLs for refractory CMV infection, further showed that adoptive therapy with donor or third-party CMV-CTLs had comparable clinical responses without significant therapy-related toxicity. We observed strong expansion of CD8+ tetramer+ T cells and proliferation of recipient endogenous CMV-CTLs after CMV-CTL infusion, which were associated with a reduced or cleared viral load. Our data confirmed that adoptive therapy with third-party or transplant donor CMV-CTLs triggered comparable antiviral responses to CMV infection that might be mediated by restoration of endogenous CMV-specific immunity.

Donor NKG2C homozygosity contributes to CMV clearance after haploidentical transplantation.

CMV infection remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Several investigators have reported that adaptive NKG2C+ NK cells persistently expand during CMV reactivation. In our study, 2 cohorts were enrolled to explore the relationships among the NKG2C genotype, NKG2C+ NK cell reconstitution, and CMV infection. Multivariate analysis showed that donor NKG2C gene deletion was an independent prognostic factor for CMV reactivation and refractory CMV reactivation. Furthermore, adaptive NKG2C+ NK cells' quantitative and qualitative reconstitution, along with their anti-CMV function after transplantation, was significantly lower in patients grafted with NKG2Cwt/del donor cells than in those grafted with NKG2Cwt/wt donor cells. At day 30 after transplantation, quantitative reconstitution of NKG2C+ NK cells was significantly lower in patients with treatment-refractory CMV reactivation than in patients without CMV reactivation and those with nonrefractory CMV reactivation. In humanized CMV-infected mice, we found that, compared with those from NKG2Cwt/del donors, adaptive NKG2C+ NK cells from NKG2Cwt/wt donors induced earlier and stronger expansion of NKG2C+ NK cells as well as earlier and stronger CMV clearance in vivo. In conclusion, donor NKG2C homozygosity contributes to CMV clearance by promoting the quantitative and qualitative reconstruction of adaptive NKG2C+ NK cells after haploidentical allo-HSCT.

Donor activating killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors genes correlated with Epstein-Barr virus reactivation after haploidentical haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Natural killer (NK) cells exert anti-viral effects after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The balance between inhibition and activation of NK cells determined by the inherited repertoire of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) genes may influence Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation after transplantation. To evaluate the relative contributions of KIR genotypes to EBV reactivation, we prospectively enrolled 300 patients with malignant haematological disease who were suitable for haploidentical HSCT. Univariate analysis showed that donors with KIR2DS1, KIR2DS3 or KIR3DS1 genes were associated with an increased risk of EBV reactivation [hazard ratio (HR) 1·86, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·19-2·9, P = 0·0067; HR 1·78, 95% CI 1·07-2·97, P = 0·027; HR 1·86, 95% CI 1·19-2·91, P = 0·0065 respectively]. Multivariate analysis revealed that the presence of KIR2DS1, KIR2DS3 or KIR3DS1 genes was associated with increased EBV reactivation after HSCT. This effect was more evident in the absence of the cognate ligands for the corresponding activating receptors. Our present data firstly showed that donors with activating KIR genes, specifically activating KIR2DS1, KIR2DS3 and KIR3DS1, had an increased risk of EBV reactivation. Precaution for patients whose donors carry activating genes will help prevent EBV reactivation and improve patient prognosis after HSCT.

Functional Competence of NK Cells via the KIR/MHC Class I Interaction Correlates with DNAM-1 Expression.

The interaction of inhibitory receptors with self-MHC class I (MHC-I) molecules is responsible for NK cell education. The intensity of DNAM-1 expression correlates with NK cell education. However, whether DNAM-1 expression directly influences the functional competence of NK cells via the KIR/MHC-I interaction remains unclear. Based on allogeneic haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, we investigated the intensity of DNAM-1 expression on reconstituted NK cells via the interaction of KIR with both donor HLA and recipient HLA at days 30, 90, and 180 after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The reconstituted NK cells educated by donor and recipient HLA molecules showed the highest DNAM-1 expression, whereas DNAM-1 expression on educated NK cells with only recipient HLA molecules was higher than that on educated NK cells with only donor HLA molecules, indicating that NK cells with donor or recipient HLA molecules regulate DNAM-1 expression and thereby affect NK cell education. Additionally, the effects of recipient cells on NK cell education were greater than those of donor cells. However, only when the DNAM-1, NKP30, and NKG2D receptors were blocked simultaneously was the function of educated and uneducated NK cells similar. Therefore, activating receptors may collaborate with DNAM-1 to induce educated NK cell hyperresponsiveness. Our data, based on in vitro and in vivo studies, demonstrate that the functional competence of NK cells via the KIR/MHC-I interaction correlates with DNAM-1 expression in human NK cells.