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Review
. 2014 Dec:9:154-61.
doi: 10.1016/j.coviro.2014.10.001. Epub 2014 Oct 27.

Immune response to HHV-6 and implications for immunotherapy

Aniuska Becerra  1 , Laura Gibson  2 , Lawrence J Stern  3 , J Mauricio Calvo-Calle  1
Affiliations
Review

Immune response to HHV-6 and implications for immunotherapy

Aniuska Becerra et al. Curr Opin Virol. 2014 Dec.

Abstract

Most adults remain chronically infected with HHV-6 after resolution of a primary infection in childhood, with the latent virus held in check by the immune system. Iatrogenic immunosuppression following solid organ transplantation (SOT) or hematopoetic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) can allow latent viruses to reactivate. HHV-6 reactivation has been associated with increased morbidity, graft rejection, and neurological complications post-transplantation. Recent work has identified HHV-6 antigens that are targeted by the CD4+ and CD8+ T cell response in chronically infected adults. T cell populations recognizing these targets can be expanded in vitro and are being developed for use in autologous immunotherapy to control post-transplantation HHV-6 reaction.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Targets of the adaptive immune response to HHV-6
Antibody and T cell responses target the viral surface membrane, tegument, and capsid components of the virion as well as non-structure proteins expressed in infected cells. Inset (left) shows a purified viral particle with components indicated, and cartoon (right) shows intracellular locations for the expected stepwise viral assembly process.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Autologous immune enhancement therapy
A) Primary infection with HHV-6 virus elicits antibody and T cell responses. B) During chronic infection virus levels are controlled by antibody and T cell responses. C) In transplantation patients, iatrogenic immunosuppression interferes with immune control of HHV-6 and allows virus reactivation with consequent pathology. D) HHV-6-specific T cells expanded in vivo can be reintroduced after transplantation to control virus reactivation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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