Abstract
Since Looney at al. published their seminal paper a decade ago it has become clear that many of the differences in T cell immunological parameters observed between young and old people are related to the age-associated increasing prevalence of infection with the persistent beta-herpesvirus HHV-5 (Cytomegalovirus). Ten years later, studies suggest that hallmark age-associated changes in peripheral blood T cell subset distribution may not occur at all in people who are not infected with this virus. Whether the observed changes are actually caused by CMV is an open question, but very similar, rapid changes observed in uninfected patients receiving CMV-infected kidney grafts are consistent with a causative role. This meeting intensively discussed these and other questions related to the impact of CMV on human immune status and its relevance for immune function in later life.
Highlights
Background and rationale SinceLooney at al. published their seminal paper a decade ago [1] it has become clear that many of the differences in T cell immunological parameters observed between young and old people are related to the ageassociated increasing prevalence of infection with the persistent b-herpesvirus HHV-5 (Cytomegalovirus)
A more difficult question to answer is whether ageassociated immune changes believed to contribute to the immunodeficiency of ageing are likewise caused by CMV
An important question becomes whether the CMV-sensitive altered immune cell subset distributions in the elderly, the decreased numbers and percentages of naïve T cells and increased late-stage differentiated memory T cells, are in reality
Summary
Background and rationale SinceLooney at al. published their seminal paper a decade ago [1] it has become clear that many of the differences in T cell immunological parameters observed between young and old people are related to the ageassociated increasing prevalence of infection with the persistent b-herpesvirus HHV-5 (Cytomegalovirus). A more difficult question to answer is whether ageassociated immune changes believed to contribute to the immunodeficiency of ageing are likewise caused by CMV.
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