TY - JOUR
T1 - Latent CMV Infection Is Associated With Lower Influenza Virus-Specific Memory T-Cell Frequencies, but Not With an Impaired T-Cell Response to Acute Influenza Virus Infection
AU - van den Berg, Sara P.H.
AU - Lanfermeijer, Josien
AU - Jacobi, Ronald H.J.
AU - Hendriks, Marion
AU - Vos, Martijn
AU - van Schuijlenburg, Roos
AU - Nanlohy, Nening M.
AU - Borghans, José A.M.
AU - van Beek, Josine
AU - van Baarle, Debbie
AU - de Wit, Jelle
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Copyright © 2021 van den Berg, Lanfermeijer, Jacobi, Hendriks, Vos, van Schuijlenburg, Nanlohy, Borghans, van Beek, van Baarle and de Wit.
PY - 2021/5/5
Y1 - 2021/5/5
N2 - Latent infection with cytomegalovirus (CMV) is assumed to contribute to the age-associated decline of the immune system. CMV induces large changes in the T-cell pool and may thereby affect other immune responses. CMV is expected to impact especially older adults, who are already at higher risk of severe disease and hospitalization upon infections such as influenza virus (IAV) infection. Here, we investigated the impact of CMV infection on IAV-specific CD8+ T-cell frequencies in healthy individuals (n=96) and the response to IAV infection in older adults (n=72). IAV-specific memory T-cell frequencies were lower in healthy CMV+ older individuals compared to healthy CMV- older individuals. Upon acute IAV infection, CMV serostatus or CMV-specific antibody levels were not negatively associated with IAV-specific T-cell frequencies, function, phenotype or T-cell receptor repertoire diversity. This suggests that specific T-cell responses upon acute IAV infection are not negatively affected by CMV. In addition, we found neither an association between CMV infection and inflammatory cytokine levels in serum during acute IAV infection nor between cytokine levels and the height of the IAV-specific T-cell response upon infection. Finally, CMV infection was not associated with increased severity of influenza-related symptoms. In fact, CMV infection was even associated with increased IAV-specific T-cell responses early upon acute IAV infection. In conclusion, although associated with lower frequencies of memory IAV-specific T cells in healthy individuals, CMV infection does not seem to hamper the induction of a proper T-cell response during acute IAV infection in older adults.
AB - Latent infection with cytomegalovirus (CMV) is assumed to contribute to the age-associated decline of the immune system. CMV induces large changes in the T-cell pool and may thereby affect other immune responses. CMV is expected to impact especially older adults, who are already at higher risk of severe disease and hospitalization upon infections such as influenza virus (IAV) infection. Here, we investigated the impact of CMV infection on IAV-specific CD8+ T-cell frequencies in healthy individuals (n=96) and the response to IAV infection in older adults (n=72). IAV-specific memory T-cell frequencies were lower in healthy CMV+ older individuals compared to healthy CMV- older individuals. Upon acute IAV infection, CMV serostatus or CMV-specific antibody levels were not negatively associated with IAV-specific T-cell frequencies, function, phenotype or T-cell receptor repertoire diversity. This suggests that specific T-cell responses upon acute IAV infection are not negatively affected by CMV. In addition, we found neither an association between CMV infection and inflammatory cytokine levels in serum during acute IAV infection nor between cytokine levels and the height of the IAV-specific T-cell response upon infection. Finally, CMV infection was not associated with increased severity of influenza-related symptoms. In fact, CMV infection was even associated with increased IAV-specific T-cell responses early upon acute IAV infection. In conclusion, although associated with lower frequencies of memory IAV-specific T cells in healthy individuals, CMV infection does not seem to hamper the induction of a proper T-cell response during acute IAV infection in older adults.
KW - ageing
KW - cytomegalovirus infection
KW - immune response
KW - influenza infection
KW - T cell
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85105995697&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fimmu.2021.663664
DO - 10.3389/fimmu.2021.663664
M3 - Article
C2 - 34025665
AN - SCOPUS:85105995697
SN - 1664-3224
VL - 12
JO - Frontiers in Immunology
JF - Frontiers in Immunology
M1 - 663664
ER -