Chronic CMV infection in older women: longitudinal comparisons of CMV DNA in peripheral monocytes, anti-CMV IgG titers, serum IL-6 levels, and CMV pp65 (NLV)-specific CD8(+) T-cell frequencies with twelve year follow-up.
Chronic cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection may contribute significantly to T-cell immunosenescence, chronic inflammation, and adverse health outcomes in older adults. Recent studies suggest detectable CMV DNA in peripheral monocytes as a better indicator for this persistent viral infection than anti-CMV IgG serology. Here, we conducted longitudinal comparisons of anti-CMV IgG titers, CMV DNA in the peripheral monocytes, serum IL-6 levels, and CMV pp65 (NLV)-specific CD8(+) T-cell frequencies in fifteen community-dwelling older women with twelve year follow-up. The results showed that anti-CMV IgG titers did not change over twelve years. Women with detectable CMV DNA had significantly higher IL-6 levels than those without, both at baseline (3.06±0.58 vs 1.19±0.37pg/ml, respectively, p<.001) and at the follow-up (3.23±0.66 versus 0.98±0.37pg/ml, respectively, p<.001). In addition, CMV pp65 (NLV)-specific CD8(+) T cells were detected only in women who had CMV DNA with similar frequencies at both time points. These findings indicate that anti-CMV IgG serology is neither sensitive to change nor useful for monitoring chronic CMV infection over time. They also provide a basis for further investigation into chronic CMV infection as defined by detectable CMV DNA in the peripheral monocytes and its impact on immunity and health in the elderly.
Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Huifen
H
Li
Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Peter
P
Weng
Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Kevin
K
Najarro
Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Qian-Li
QL
Xue
Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Richard D
RD
Semba
Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Joseph B
JB
Margolick
Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. Electronic address: sleng1@jhmi.edu.
Sean X
SX
Leng
D000368:Aged; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000473:pathology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D004279:DNA, Viral; D015850:Interleukin-6; C048844:anti-IgG
Aging; CMV DNA in monocytes; CMV pp65 (NLV)-specific CD8(+) T cells; Chronic CMV infection; IL-6; Longitudinal