HSCT using carrier donors for CD40L deficiency results in excellent immune function and higher CD40L expression in cTfh

Abstract

Data are limited regarding the immune status of CD40 ligand (CD40L)-deficient carriers and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) outcomes using them as donors for CD40L-deficient patients. Therefore, we studied the immune profiles of 7 carriers, 4 of whom were HSCT donors for family members with CD40L deficiency, and we characterized their HSCT outcomes. Immunoglobulin profiles, CD4, CD8, circulating T-follicular helper (cTfh) cells, and regulatory T cells (Tregs) in carriers were comparable to those in healthy controls. CD40L expression in carriers ranged from 37% to 78%. cTfh cells from carriers expressed higher CD40L compared with total CD4 cells or the memory CD4 compartment, suggesting a potential advantage to CD40L-expressing cTfh cells. Tregs had minimal CD40L expression in carriers and healthy controls. So we postulated that HSCT using donors who were CD40L carriers may result in excellent immune reconstitution without immune dysregulation. Four CD40L-deficient patients underwent HSCT from carriers who had CD40L expression from 37% to 63%. All patients engrafted, achieved excellent immune reconstitution with lack of opportunistic infections, graft-versus-host disease, and immune dysregulation; stable CD40L expression mimicked that of donors 1 to 5 years after HSCT. Immunoglobulin independence was achieved in 3 of the 4 patients. We demonstrated higher CD40L expression in the cTfh compartment of carriers and excellent immune reconstitution using donors who were CD40L carriers in CD40L-deficient patients.