Aging and cytomegalovirus infection differentially and jointly affect distinct circulating T cell subsets in humans

• Published in: The Journal of immunology (1950) 2014-03, Vol.192 (5), p.2143-2155
• Main Authors: Wertheimer, Anne M, Bennett, Michael S, Park, Byung, Uhrlaub, Jennifer L, Martinez, Carmine, Pulko, Vesna, Currier, Noreen L, Nikolich-Žugich, Dragana, Kaye, Jeffrey, Nikolich-Žugich, Janko
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging - blood; Aging - immunology; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; Cytomegalovirus - immunology; Cytomegalovirus Infections - blood; Cytomegalovirus Infections - immunology; Female; Humans; Immunologic Memory; Male; Middle Aged
• ISSN: 0022-1767; 1550-6606
• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1301721

The impact of intrinsic aging upon human peripheral blood T cell subsets remains incompletely quantified and understood. This impact must be distinguished from the influence of latent persistent microorganisms, particularly CMV, which has been associated with age-related changes in the T cell pool. In a cross-sectional cohort of 152 CMV-negative individuals, aged 21-101 y, we found that aging correlated strictly to an absolute loss of naive CD8, but not CD4, T cells but, contrary to many reports, did not lead to an increase in memory T cell numbers. The loss of naive CD8 T cells was not altered by CMV in 239 subjects (range 21-96 y), but the decline in CD4(+) naive cells showed significance in CMV(+) individuals. These individuals also exhibited an absolute increase in the effector/effector memory CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells with age. That increase was seen mainly, if not exclusively, in older subjects with elevated anti-CMV Ab titers, suggesting that efficacy of viral control over time may determine the magnitude of CMV impact upon T cell memory, and perhaps upon immune defense. These findings provide important new insights into the age-related changes in the peripheral blood pool of older adults, demonstrating that aging and CMV exert both distinct and joint influence upon blood T cell homeostasis in humans.