Immunity to Polyomavirus BK Infection: Immune Monitoring to Regulate the Balance between Risk of BKV Nephropathy and Induction of Alloimmunity

Clin Dev Immunol. 2013:2013:256923. doi: 10.1155/2013/256923. Epub 2013 Aug 13.

Abstract

Polyomavirus BK-associated nephropathy (PyVAN) is the main infectious cause of allograft damage after kidney transplantation. A number of studies revealed an association between the presence of BKV-specific cellular immunity and BK viral clearance, with patients failing to recover specific T cells progressing to PyVAN. Evolution to allograft dysfunction can be prevented by restoration of BKV-specific immunity through a stepwise reduction of maintenance immunosuppressive drugs. Prospective monitoring of BK viral load and specific immunity, together with B-cell alloimmune surveillance, may allow a targeted modification/reduction of immunosuppression, with the aim of obtaining viral clearance while preventing graft injury due to deposition of de novo donor-specific HLA antibodies and late/chronic antibody-mediated allograft injury. Innovative, immune-based therapies may further contribute to BKV infection prevention and control.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity
  • BK Virus / immunology*
  • Graft Rejection / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Surveillance
  • Immunotherapy
  • Kidney Diseases / diagnosis
  • Kidney Diseases / immunology
  • Kidney Diseases / prevention & control
  • Kidney Diseases / therapy
  • Kidney Diseases / virology
  • Kidney Transplantation / adverse effects
  • Polyomavirus Infections / diagnosis
  • Polyomavirus Infections / immunology*
  • Polyomavirus Infections / prevention & control
  • Polyomavirus Infections / therapy
  • Transplantation, Homologous