University of Sussex
Browse
Functional diversity of CMV-specific T-cells.pdf (1.39 MB)

Functional diversity of CMV-specific T-cells is maintained in older people and significantly associated with protein specificity and response size

Download (1.39 MB)
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 02:31 authored by Martha Bajwa Joseph, Serena Vita, Rosanna Vescovini, Martin Larsen, Paolo Sansoni, Nadia Terrazzini, Stefano Caserta, David Thomas, Kevin DaviesKevin Davies, Helen Smith, Florian KernFlorian Kern
Background: Parallel up-regulation of several T-cell effector functions (‘polyfunctionality’) is believed to be critical for the protection against viruses but thought to decrease in large T-cell expansions, in particular at older ages. The factors determining T-cell polyfunctionality are incompletely understood. Here we revisit the question of CMV-specific T-cell polyfunctionality, including a wide range of T-cell target proteins, response sizes, and participant ages. Methods: Polychromatic flow-cytometry was used to analyze the functional diversity (CD107, CD154, IL-2, TNF, IFN-?) of CD4 and CD8 T-cell responses to 19 CMV proteins in a large group of young and older UK participants. A group of oldest old people (>85years) was included to explore these parameters in exceptional ‘survivors’. Polyfunctionality was assessed for each proteinspecific response subset by subset and in aggregate across all proteins using the novel polyfunctionality index (PI). Results: Polyfunctionality was not reduced in healthy older compared to young people. However, it was significantly related to target protein specificity. For each protein it increased with response size. In the oldest old overall T-cell polyfunctionality was significantly lower. Discussion: Our results give a new perspective on T-cell polyfunctionality and raise the question if maintaining polyfunctionality of CMV-specific T-cells at older ages is necessarily beneficial.

Funding

The role of CMV-specific immunity in the association between CMV infection and vascular complicatio; G1198; DUNHILL MEDICAL TRUST; R278/0213

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Accepted version

Journal

International Journal of Infectious Diseases

ISSN

1201-9712

Publisher

Elsevier

Issue

9

Volume

214

Page range

1430-1437

Department affiliated with

  • BSMS Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2016-08-15

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2016-08-15

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2016-08-15

Usage metrics

    University of Sussex (Publications)

    Categories

    No categories selected

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC