We summarize here an interesting clinical trial conducted at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital, where BK virus-specific T cells are adoptively transferred to transplant patients.
BK are the initials of the patient the virus was isolated from
This study focused on using virus-specific T cells to treat BK virus (BKV) infections in immunocompromised patients, such as those who have undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT) or solid organ transplants (SOT). The treatment, using donor-derived or third-party T cells, proved highly effective, with overall response rates of 86% for viremia and 100% for hemorrhagic cystitis. Importantly, no adverse effects like graft-versus-host disease or organ rejection were observed, making T cell therapy a promising option for treating BKV in such patients.
ELISpot was pivotal in achieving these results as it allowed for the quantification of virus-specific immune responses post-treatment. Using ELISpot Plus: Human IFN γ (ALP), the authors measured IFN-γ production by PBMCs in response to BKV antigens, confirming the presence and expansion of BKV-specific T cells after T cell infusion. This provided direct evidence of the immune system's response to the therapy, helping to validate its effectiveness in reducing viral load and alleviating symptoms.
References
Nelson et al., Virus-specific T-cell therapy to treat BK polyomavirus infection in bone marrow and solid organ transplant recipients. Blood Adv. 2020
Mabtech products used in this study