title: Specific cell-mediated immune defect in active cytomegalovirus infection of young children and their mothers.
abstract: 4 young children with active cytomegalovirus (C.M.V.) infection were  found, by an in-vitro lymphocyte-proliferation assay, to have a C.M.V.-specific cell-mediated immune defect. These children had antibodies to C.M.V. and were actively shedding C.M.V. in the urine when studied. Their general cellular immune responses were intact, with normal numbers of T lymphocytes and normal in-vitro responses to mitogens and at least one antigen. 3 of the 4 mothers studied shortly after delivery had decreased cell-mediated immunity to C.M.V. These findings suggest that an antigen-specific immune defect facilitates transmission of virus from mother to infant and permits persistence of viral replication in the offspring.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral