Nils Mülling, postdoc in the Arens group, observed that in patients who are unable to control CMV the CD8 T cells are metabolically exhausted resulting in less efficient control of the virus. The culprit was an overactive molecule named CD38. By inhibiting CD38, the energy balance in the CD8 T cells could be restored, and the virus better controlled.
According to Arens and Mülling, their discovery offers hope not only to kidney transplant patients with CMV, but also to recipients of other organs who carry the virus. The results also offer leads for other chronic viruses, such as HIV and hepatitis B. Furthermore, the CD38 inhibitor could also have potential as a new form of immunotherapy against cancer.
The study has been published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation (https://www.jci.org/articles/view/179561). More information can be found here: https://www.lumc.nl/en/news/2024/new-solution-found-for-cmv-and-potentially-other-chronic-viruses-and-cancer/