T-Cell Responses in Adults During Natural Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection

Department

Medicine

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

The Journal Of Infectious Diseases

Abstract

Background: The pathogenesis of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in older adults may be due to age-related T-cell immunosenescence. Thus, we evaluated CD4 and CD8 T-cell responses during RSV infection in adults across the age spectrum. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells collected during RSV infection in adults, age 26-96 years, were stimulated with live RSV and peptide pools representing F, M, NP, and G proteins and analyzed by flow cytometry. Results: There were no significant age-related differences in frequency of CD4+ T cells synthesizing interferon (IFN)γ, interleukin (IL)2, IL4, IL10, or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α or in CD8+IFNγ+ T cells. IL4+CD4+ T-cell numbers were low, as were IL13 and IL17 responses. However, in univariate analysis, CD4 T-cell IFNγ, IL2, IL4, IL10, and TNFα responses and CD8+IFNγ+ T cells were significantly increased with more severe illness requiring hospitalization. In multivariate analysis, viral load was also associated with increased T-cell responses. Conclusions: We found no evidence of diminished RSV-specific CD4 or CD8 T-cell responses in adults infected with RSV. However, adults with severe disease seemed to have more robust CD4 and CD8 T-cell responses during infection, suggesting that disease severity may have a greater association with T-cell responses than age.

First Page

418

Last Page

428

DOI

10.1093/infdis/jiy016

Volume

218

Issue

3

Publication Date

7-2-2018

Medical Subject Headings

Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes (immunology); CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes (immunology); Cohort Studies; Cytokines (analysis); Female; Flow Cytometry; Hospitalization; Humans; Immunity, Cellular; Leukocytes, Mononuclear (immunology); Male; Middle Aged; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections (immunology); Respiratory Syncytial Viruses (immunology); Viral Load

PubMed ID

29920599

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