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Gopcsa L, Réti M, Andrikovics H, Bobek I, Bekő G, Bogyó J, Ceglédi A, Dobos K, Giba-Kiss L, Jankovics I, Kis O, Lakatos B, Mathiász D, Meggyesi N, Miskolczi G, Németh N, Paksi M, Riczu A, Sinkó J, Szabó B, Szilvási A, Szlávik J, Tasnády S, Reményi P, Vályi-Nagy I. Effective virus-specific T-cell therapy for high-risk SARS-CoV-2 infections in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients: initial case studies and literature review. GeroScience 2024; 46:1083-1106. [PMID: 37414968 PMCID: PMC10828167 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-00858-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated mortality rates among immunocompromised patients, accentuating the need for novel, targeted therapies. Transplant recipients, with their inherent immune vulnerabilities, represent a subgroup at significantly heightened risk. Current conventional therapies often demonstrate limited effectiveness in these patients, calling for innovative treatment approaches. In immunocompromised transplant recipients, several viral infections have been successfully treated by adoptive transfer of virus-specific T-cells (VST). This paper details the successful application of SARS-CoV-2-specific memory T-cell therapy, produced by an interferon-γ cytokine capture system (CliniMACS® Prodigy device), in three stem cell transplant recipients diagnosed with COVID-19 (case 1: alpha variant, cases 2 and 3: delta variants). These patients exhibited persistent SARS-CoV-2 PCR positivity accompanied by bilateral pulmonary infiltrates and demonstrated only partial response to standard treatments. Remarkably, all three patients recovered and achieved viral clearance within 3 to 9 weeks post-VST treatment. Laboratory follow-up investigations identified an increase in SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cells in two of the cases. A robust anti-SARS-CoV-2 S (S1/S2) IgG serological response was also recorded, albeit with varying titers. The induction of memory T-cells within the CD4 + compartment was confirmed, and previously elevated interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-8 levels normalized post-VST therapy. The treatment was well tolerated with no observed adverse effects. While the need for specialized equipment and costs associated with VST therapy present potential challenges, the limited treatment options currently available for COVID-19 within the allogeneic stem cell transplant population, combined with the risk posed by emerging SARS-CoV-2 mutations, underscore the potential of VST therapy in future clinical practice. This therapeutic approach may be particularly beneficial for elderly patients with multiple comorbidities and weakened immune systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- László Gopcsa
- Department of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Central Hospital of Southern-Pest, National Institute of Hematology and Infectious Diseases, 1 Nagyvárad Square, P.B. 1097, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Marienn Réti
- Department of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Central Hospital of Southern-Pest, National Institute of Hematology and Infectious Diseases, 1 Nagyvárad Square, P.B. 1097, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Hajnalka Andrikovics
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Central Hospital of Southern-Pest, National Institute of Hematology and Infectious Diseases, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ilona Bobek
- Department of Intensive Care Unit, Central Hospital of Southern-Pest, National Institute of Hematology and Infectious Diseases, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gabriella Bekő
- Department of Central Laboratory, Central Hospital of Southern-Pest, National Institute of Hematology and Infectious Diseases, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Judit Bogyó
- Hungarian National Blood Transfusion Service, Karolina Út 19-21, 1113, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Andrea Ceglédi
- Department of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Central Hospital of Southern-Pest, National Institute of Hematology and Infectious Diseases, 1 Nagyvárad Square, P.B. 1097, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Katalin Dobos
- Department of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Central Hospital of Southern-Pest, National Institute of Hematology and Infectious Diseases, 1 Nagyvárad Square, P.B. 1097, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Laura Giba-Kiss
- Department of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Central Hospital of Southern-Pest, National Institute of Hematology and Infectious Diseases, 1 Nagyvárad Square, P.B. 1097, Budapest, Hungary
| | - István Jankovics
- National Public Health and Medical Officer Service, Albert Florian Út 2-6, 1097, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Orsolya Kis
- Department of Intensive Care Unit, Central Hospital of Southern-Pest, National Institute of Hematology and Infectious Diseases, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Botond Lakatos
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Central Hospital of Southern-Pest, National Institute of Hematology and Infectious Diseases, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Dóra Mathiász
- Department of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Central Hospital of Southern-Pest, National Institute of Hematology and Infectious Diseases, 1 Nagyvárad Square, P.B. 1097, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Nóra Meggyesi
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Central Hospital of Southern-Pest, National Institute of Hematology and Infectious Diseases, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gottfried Miskolczi
- Department of Central Laboratory, Central Hospital of Southern-Pest, National Institute of Hematology and Infectious Diseases, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Noémi Németh
- Department of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Central Hospital of Southern-Pest, National Institute of Hematology and Infectious Diseases, 1 Nagyvárad Square, P.B. 1097, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Melinda Paksi
- Department of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Central Hospital of Southern-Pest, National Institute of Hematology and Infectious Diseases, 1 Nagyvárad Square, P.B. 1097, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Alexandra Riczu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Central Hospital of Southern-Pest, National Institute of Hematology and Infectious Diseases, Budapest, Hungary
| | - János Sinkó
- Department of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Central Hospital of Southern-Pest, National Institute of Hematology and Infectious Diseases, 1 Nagyvárad Square, P.B. 1097, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Bálint Szabó
- Department of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Central Hospital of Southern-Pest, National Institute of Hematology and Infectious Diseases, 1 Nagyvárad Square, P.B. 1097, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anikó Szilvási
- Hungarian National Blood Transfusion Service, Karolina Út 19-21, 1113, Budapest, Hungary
| | - János Szlávik
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Central Hospital of Southern-Pest, National Institute of Hematology and Infectious Diseases, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Szabolcs Tasnády
- Department of Central Laboratory, Central Hospital of Southern-Pest, National Institute of Hematology and Infectious Diseases, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Péter Reményi
- Department of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Central Hospital of Southern-Pest, National Institute of Hematology and Infectious Diseases, 1 Nagyvárad Square, P.B. 1097, Budapest, Hungary
| | - István Vályi-Nagy
- Department of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Central Hospital of Southern-Pest, National Institute of Hematology and Infectious Diseases, 1 Nagyvárad Square, P.B. 1097, Budapest, Hungary
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