Loss of CCR7 Expression on CD57 + CD56/ CD16 + NK Cells Correlates with Viral Load in CMV Reactivated Kidney Transplant Recipients

Despite developing strategies for antiviral treatment, cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection remains one of the most common challenges in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). The evaluation of CMV viral load is still the most practical main clinical approach for CMV assessment and guides decision-making in recipient antiviral treatment. However, there is not a specific viral load cut off for initiating treatment yet. On the other hand, the cellular immune system and the innate immune response prove their roles in diagnosing CMV reinfection and monitoring the therapeutic regime to control CMV. Interactions among the components of cellular immunity encounter CMV reactivation provide a strong treatment management plan for clinical decisions about antiviral therapy against CMV. Natural killer (NK) cells, as essential effector cells, present potentially antiviral activity through distinct subpopulations. CCR7expressing NK cells were identified by high cytotoxicity and functionality among NK cell subsets. Here, we explored the correlation between CCR7+ expressing NK cells with viral load in CMV reactivated-kidney transplant recipients. A cross-sectional study was conducted among ten CMV reactivated KTRs. The CMV DNA copy number was evaluated utilizing real-time PCR.NK cell phenotypic profiling was done using flow cytometry. Increasing of CMV viral load in CMV reactivated KTRs had a negative correlation with CCR7+CD57+ CD56/CD16+ NK cell (P < .05 r = -0.7) after CMV reactivation. Significantly increased level of CCR7-CD57- CD56/CD16+ NK cell was associated with CMV viral load within CMV reactivated KTRs (P < .05, r = 0.68). CCR7 expression is associated with CMV reactivation, which offers a new aspect of CMV-associated immunity within the NK cell compartment. DOI: 10.52547/ijkd.6721.