Age-related decrease in adenovirus-specific T cell responses.
Infections with persistent viruses, such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) or adenovirus, are not, in general, clinically apparent but may cause serious complications in the immunocompromised host. As has been shown for CMV, the cellular arm of the immune response is essential in controlling viral replication. However, cellular immunity toward adenoviruses has not been well characterized in humans. The aim of the present study was the quantitative and functional analysis of adenovirus-specific T cell responses from 171 healthy individuals and 59 long-term renal transplant recipients by use of flow-cytometric, as well as standard proliferation and enzyme-linked immunosorbant, assays. Adenovirus-specific immunity is dominated by CD4 T cells with memory/effector phenotype. Of interest, the frequency of adenovirus-specific T cells decreases significantly with age. This age-related decline indicates the eventual elimination of adenoviruses within a lifetime that may explain the well-known clinical observation of a predominant incidence of adenoviral complications in children and young adults, compared with older adults, after transplantation.
Sester
Martina
M
Medical Department IV, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of the Saarland, Homburg, Germany. martha.sester@uniklinik-saarland.de
Sester
Urban
U
Alarcon Salvador
Susana
S
Heine
Gunnar
G
Lipfert
Sabine
S
Girndt
Matthias
M
Gärtner
Barbara
B
Köhler
Hans
H
D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000276:immunology*; D000257:Adenoviridae Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D016207:Cytokines