T cell control of primary and latent cytomegalovirus infections in healthy subjects.
The T cell repertoire required to control acute and latent CMV infection in otherwise healthy individuals was examined using both functional analysis and a wide range of MHC I tetramers. Both frequency and function of CMV specific T cells varied considerably between subjects, however, within subjects values remained stable over time. In total 16 +/- 3.5 CMV specific T cells/mul blood was detected, with obvious immunodominance between different CMV epitopes. Most subjects with latent infection showed low CMV specific T cell activity, whereas a subgroup (1/3) of individuals was high in either frequency or function of their CMV specific T cells. Patients with acute infection displayed high initial, but rapidly decreasing, numbers of CMV specific cells. In conclusion, a majority of healthy individuals readily seem to control latent CMV infection, whereas a subpopulation (1/3) of individuals uses a large proportion of their CD8+ T cell repertoire to control the infection.
Lidehall
Anna K
AK
Divisions of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. annakarin.lidehall@klinimm.uu.se
Sund
Fredrik
F
Lundberg
Tobias
T
Eriksson
Britt-Marie
BM
Tötterman
Thomas H
TH
Korsgren
Olle
O
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
D006680:HLA Antigens; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes; D007371:Interferon-gamma