T-helper cell responses in liver transplant recipients: correlation with cytomegalovirus and other major infections

Mitogen concanavalin A (ConA) response and cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific memory response were assessed in 24 liver transplant recipients and compared with healthy subjects. Transplant recipients as compared to healthy subjects had a lower CMV memory response at 2 weeks (P=0.023), and at 1 month (P=0.06), but a comparable response at 3 months. CMV recipient+/donor+(R+/D+) patients had the greatest increase in CMV-specific memory response at 2-3 months as compared to all other groups. Within this R+/D+ group, CMV-specific memory response was significantly more robust in patients who never had CMV infection as compared to those who developed CMV infection (P=0.035). ConA response at 2 weeks was significantly lower in patients with major infections as compared to those without them (SI 5.4 vs. 38.1, P=0.039). Thus, reconstitution of CMV-specific T-helper cell response was distinct for subsets of liver transplant recipients based on the recipient and donor CMV serostatus. Impairment in proliferative response to ConA identified a subgroup of patients with major infections after liver transplantation.