Different contribution of EBV and CMV infections in very long-term carriers to age-related alterations of CD8+ T cells.

Abstract

Aging is accompanied by a complex dynamics of CD8+ T cell subsets whose origin is unclear. To evaluate the impact of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) chronic infections on CD8+ T cells in far advanced age, we studied CD8+ T cells frequencies and phenotype in nonagenarians and centenarians by HLA-A*0201- and HLA-B*0702-tetramers incorporating epitopes specific of both viruses along with viral replication. The results demonstrate that EBV and CMV infections induce quantitatively and qualitatively different CD8+ T-cell responses in advanced aging. The frequency and absolute number of CD8+ T cells specific for one lytic and two latent EBV-epitopes, were relatively low and mostly included within CD8+ CD28+ cells. By contrast, CMV infection was characterized by highly variable numbers of CD8+ T cells specific for two differently restricted CMV-epitopes that, in some subjects, were strikingly expanded. Moreover, the great majority of anti-CMV CD8+ T cells did not bear CD28 antigen. Notwithstanding the expansion of CMV-specific CD8+ lymphocytes, CMV-DNA detection in blood samples was invariably negative. Altogether, we suggest that CMV, but not EBV, can sustain chronic activation of the HLA-class I restricted effector arm in elderly that might have detrimental effects on age-associated diseases.

• Authors: Rosanna Vescovini, Annarita Telera, Francesco F Fagnoni, Claudia Biasini, Maria Cristina Medici, Pierpaolo Valcavi, Patricia di Pede, Gianluca Lucchini, Luca Zanlari, Giovanni Passeri, Franco Zanni, Carlo Chezzi, Claudio Franceschi, Paolo Sansoni
• Journal: Experimental gerontology (Exp Gerontol) Vol. 39 Issue 8 Pg. 1233-43 (Aug 2004) ISSN: 0531-5565 [Print] England
• PMID: 15288697 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• CD28 Antigens
• DNA, Viral
• Epitopes
• Histocompatibility Antigens Class I

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Aging (immunology)
• CD28 Antigens (immunology)
• CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes (immunology, virology)
• Chronic Disease
• Cytomegalovirus (genetics)
• Cytomegalovirus Infections (immunology)
• DNA, Viral (analysis)
• Epitopes (immunology)
• Epstein-Barr Virus Infections (immunology)
• Herpesvirus 4, Human (genetics)
• Histocompatibility Antigens Class I (immunology)
• Humans
• Leukocytes (virology)
• Lymphocyte Activation
• Lymphocytes (virology)