cytomegalovirus-specific T cells (University of Science and Technology of China)

Cytomegalovirus-specific T cells (CMVSTs) are an adoptive cellular immunotherapy consisting of T lymphocytes (typically CD8+ cytotoxic T cells and CD4+ helper T cells) that have been sensitized to recognize and eliminate cells infected with cytomegalovirus (CMV). This therapy is primarily used in immunocompromised patients, such as those undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) or solid organ transplantation, who are at high risk for refractory CMV infection or disease. Because umbilical cord blood (UCB) contains primarily naive T cells lacking virus-specific memory, CMVSTs are often derived from the original donor or a partially HLA-matched third-party donor to restore CMV-specific immunity. The mechanism involves the recognition of CMV-derived peptides (such as pp65 or IE1) presented on MHC molecules, leading to targeted lysis of infected cells and cytokine production.

Other names

CMV-specific T cellsCMV-CTLscytomegalovirus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes