1
|
Poloni C, Szyf M, Cheishvili D, Tsoukas CM. Are the Healthy Vulnerable? Cytomegalovirus Seropositivity in Healthy Adults Is Associated With Accelerated Epigenetic Age and Immune Dysregulation. J Infect Dis 2022; 225:443-452. [PMID: 34255838 PMCID: PMC8344607 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiab365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evaluating age as a risk factor for susceptibility to infectious diseases, particularly coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is critical. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) serologic prevalence increases with age and associates with inflammatory-mediated diseases in the elderly. However, little is known regarding the subclinical impact of CMV and risk it poses to healthy older adults. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic we conducted a study to determine the association of CMV to biologic age and immune dysregulation. METHODS Community-dwelling, healthy adults older than 60 years were evaluated using DNA methylation assays to define epigenetic age (EpiAge) and T-cell immunophenotyping to assess immune dysregulation. RESULTS All subjects were healthy and asymptomatic. Those CMV seropositive had more lymphocytes, CD8 T cells, CD28- T cells, decreased CD4:CD8 cell ratios, and had higher average EpiAge (65.34 years) than those CMV seronegative (59.53 years). Decreased percent CD4 (P = .003) and numbers of CD4 T cells (P = .0199) correlated with increased EpiAge. CONCLUSIONS Our novel findings distinguish altered immunity in the elderly based on CMV status. Chronic CMV infection in healthy, older adults is associated with indicators of immune dysregulation, both of which correlate to differences in EpiAge.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chad Poloni
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Moshe Szyf
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Christos M Tsoukas
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Division of Experimental Medicine, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Reus B, Caserta S, Larsen M, Morrow G, Bano A, Hallensleben M, Rajkumar C, Pera A, Kern F. In-Depth Profiling of T-Cell Responsiveness to Commonly Recognized CMV Antigens in Older People Reveals Important Sex Differences. Front Immunol 2021; 12:707830. [PMID: 34484207 PMCID: PMC8414256 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.707830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The impact of biological sex on T-cell immunity to Cytomegalovirus (CMV) has not been investigated in detail with only one published study comparing CMV-specific T-cell responses in men and women. Many studies, however, have shown an association between CMV infection and immunosenescence, with broad effects on peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets as well as the T and B-cell repertoires. Here, we provide a detailed analysis of CMV-specific T-cell responses in (n=94) CMV+ older people, including 47 women and 47 men aged between 60 and 93 years. We explore sex differences with respect to 16 different CMV proteins arranged in 14 peptide pools (overlapping peptides). Following ex vivo stimulation, CD4 and CD8 T-cells producing IFN-γ, TNF, and IL-2 were enumerated by flow-cytometry (intracellular cytokine staining). T-cell responses were evaluated in terms of each cytokine separately or in terms of cytokines produced simultaneously (polyfunctionality). Surface memory phenotype and CD3 downmodulation were assessed in parallel. The polyfunctionality index and a memory subset differentiation score were used to identify associations between response size, cytokine production, polyfunctionality, and memory subset distribution. While no significant sex differences were found with respect to overall CMV target protein selection, the T-cell response in men appeared more focused and accompanied by a more prominent accumulation of CMV-specific memory CD4 and CD8 T-cells. T-cell polyfunctionality and differentiation were similar in the sexes, however, CMV-specific T-cells in men produced more pro-inflammatory cytokines. Particularly, TNF production by CD4 T-cells was stronger in men than in women. Also, compared with women, men had larger responses to CMV proteins with immediate-early/early kinetics than women, which might have been driven by CMV reactivation. In conclusion, the CMV-specific T-cell response in men was larger and more pro-inflammatory than in women. Our findings may help explain sex differences in CMV-associated pathologies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Reus
- Department of Informatics, School of Engineering and Informatics, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Stefano Caserta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Hull, Hull, United Kingdom
| | - Martin Larsen
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm U1135, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI-Paris), Paris, France
| | - George Morrow
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Aalia Bano
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Hallensleben
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Transplant Engineering, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Chakravarthi Rajkumar
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Alejandra Pera
- Immunology and Allergy Group, Maimonides Institute for Biomedical Research of Cordoba (IMIBIC), Córdoba, Spain.,Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Florian Kern
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Kirkham F, Pera A, Simanek AM, Bano A, Morrow G, Reus B, Caserta S, Smith HE, Davies KA, Rajkumar C, Kern F. Cytomegalovirus infection is associated with an increase in aortic stiffness in older men which may be mediated in part by CD4 memory T-cells. Theranostics 2021; 11:5728-5741. [PMID: 33897878 PMCID: PMC8058738 DOI: 10.7150/thno.58356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Human Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is associated with atherosclerosis, higher cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, and an increase in memory T-cells (Tmem). T-cells have also been implicated in CVD, independently of CMV infection. To better understand the CMV-associated CVD risk, we examined the association between CMV (IgG) serostatus and central aortic (carotid-to-femoral) pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), an early, independent predictor of CVD. We also investigated if such an association might be reflected by the distribution of Tmem and/or other T-cell subsets. Methods: Healthy older volunteers (60-93 years) underwent routine clinical and laboratory evaluation, including assessment of cfPWV in eligible participants. Flow-cytometry was used to assess proportions of memory T-cells, CD28null T-cells, and CMV-specific T-cells. The following associations were examined; CMV serostatus/cfPWV, CMV serostatus/proportion of Tmem, proportion of Tmem/cfPWV, CD28null T-cells/cfPWV, and CMV-specific T-cells/cfPWV. Linear regression models were used to adjust for age, sex, socioeconomic status, smoking, waist-to-hip ratio, cholesterol, and blood pressure as required. Results: Statistically significant positive associations were found (P-values for the fully adjusted models are given); CMV serostatus/cfPWV in men (P ≤ 0.01) but not in women, CMV serostatus/proportions of CD4 Tmem in men (P ≤ 0.05) but not in women; proportions of CD4 Tmem/cfPWV among CMV seropositive (CMV+) people (P ≤ 0.05) but not CMV seronegative (CMV-) people. Conclusion: CMV infection increases the CVD risk of older men by increasing cfPWV. This may be mediated in part by increased proportions of CD4 Tmem, higher numbers of which are found in CMV+ older people and more so among men than women. Given the high prevalence of CMV worldwide, our findings point to a significant global health issue. Novel strategies to mitigate the increased CVD risk associated with CMV may be required.
Collapse
|
4
|
Batista MA, Calvo-Fortes F, Silveira-Nunes G, Camatta GC, Speziali E, Turroni S, Teixeira-Carvalho A, Martins-Filho OA, Neretti N, Maioli TU, Santos RR, Brigidi P, Franceschi C, Faria AMC. Inflammaging in Endemic Areas for Infectious Diseases. Front Immunol 2020; 11:579972. [PMID: 33262758 PMCID: PMC7688519 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.579972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunosenescence is marked by a systemic process named inflammaging along with a series of defects in the immunological activity that results in poor responses to infectious agents and to vaccination. Inflammaging, a state of low-grade chronic inflammation, usually leads to chronic inflammatory diseases and frailty in the elderly. However, some elderly escape from frailty and reach advanced age free of the consequences of inflammaging. This process has been called immunological remodeling, and it is the hallmark of healthy aging as described in the studies of centenarians in Italy. The biological markers of healthy aging are still a matter of debate, and the studies on the topic have focused on inflammatory versus remodeling processes and molecules. The sub-clinical inflammatory status associated with aging might be a deleterious event for populations living in countries where chronic infectious diseases are not prevalent. Nevertheless, in other parts of the world where they are, two possibilities may occur. Inflammatory responses may have a protective effect against these infectious agents. At the same time, the long-term consequences of protective immune responses during chronic infections may result in accelerated immunosenescence in these individuals. Therefore, the biological markers of healthy aging can vary according to environmental, cultural, and geographical settings that reflect worldwide, and in a non-biased, non-westernized perspective, the changes that we experience regarding our contacts with microorganisms and the outcomes of such contacts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marina Andrade Batista
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Nutrição e Saúde, Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Calvo-Fortes
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Nutrição e Saúde, Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Silveira-Nunes
- Departamento de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Governador Valadares, Brazil
| | - Giovanna Caliman Camatta
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Nutrição e Saúde, Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Elaine Speziali
- Instituto Rene Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Silvia Turroni
- Unit of Microbial Ecology of Health, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | | | - Nicola Neretti
- Departament of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Tatiani Uceli Maioli
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Nutrição e Saúde, Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Ribeiro Santos
- Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Patrizia Brigidi
- Unit of Microbial Ecology of Health, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Claudio Franceschi
- Center for Biophysics, Bioinformatics, Biocomplexity, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Laboratory of Systems Biology of Healthy Aging, Department of Applied Mathematics, Lobachevsky University, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
| | - Ana Maria Caetano Faria
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Nutrição e Saúde, Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.,Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ballegaard V, Pedersen KK, Brændstrup P, Kirkby N, Stryhn A, Ryder LP, Gerstoft J, Nielsen SD. Cytomegalovirus-specific CD8+ T-cell responses are associated with arterial blood pressure in people living with HIV. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0226182. [PMID: 31929537 PMCID: PMC6957152 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0226182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
People living with HIV (PLHIV) are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), and immunity against cytomegalovirus (CMV) may be a contributing factor. We hypothesized that enhanced T-cell responses against CMV and CMV-IgG antibody-levels are associated with higher arterial blood pressure in PLHIV. We assessed serum CMV-IgG, systolic- (SBP) and diastolic- (DBP) blood pressure, pulse pressure (PP), traditional risk factors, activated CD8+ T-cells (CD38+HLA-DR+), senescent CD8+ T-cells (CD28-CD57+) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in 60 PLHIV and 31 HIV-uninfected controls matched on age, gender, education and comorbidity. In PLHIV, expression of interleukin-2, tumor necrosis factor-α and interferon-γ was measured by intracellular-cytokine-staining after stimulation of T-cells with CMV-pp65 and CMV-gB. Associations between CMV-specific immune responses and hypertension, SBP, DBP or PP were assessed by multivariate logistic and linear regression models adjusted for appropriate confounders. The median age of PLHIV was 47 years and 90% were male. Prevalence of hypertension in PLHIV was 37% compared to 55% of HIV-uninfected controls. CMV-specific CD8+ T-cell responses were independently associated with higher PP (CMV-pp65; β = 2.29, p = 0.001, CMV-gB; β = 2.42, p = 0.001) in PLHIV. No significant differences were found with regard to individual measures of SBP and DBP. A possible weak association was found between CMV-IgG and hypertension (β = 1.33, p = 0.049) after adjustment for age, smoking and LDL-cholesterol. HIV-related factors, IL-6, CD8+ T-cell activation or CD8+ T-cell senescence did not mediate the associations, and no associations were found between CMV-specific CD4+ T-cell responses and blood pressure in PLHIV. In conclusion, increased arterial blood pressure in PLHIV may be affected by heightened CMV-specific CD8+ T-cell responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vibe Ballegaard
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Viro-immunology Research Unit, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Immunology, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Karin Kaereby Pedersen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Viro-immunology Research Unit, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Peter Brændstrup
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Hematology, Herlev University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Nikolai Kirkby
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anette Stryhn
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lars P Ryder
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jan Gerstoft
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Viro-immunology Research Unit, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Susanne Dam Nielsen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Viro-immunology Research Unit, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Yang TO, Chuang YF, Chiu YL. T-cell aging in end-stage renal disease: an evolving story with CMV. Med Microbiol Immunol 2019; 208:281-287. [PMID: 30903371 DOI: 10.1007/s00430-019-00596-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Established evidence from the last decade has suggested that chronic cytomegalovirus infection has strong impact on the human immune system, resulting in aggravated aging-associated T-cell changes that are associated with poorer vaccination responses, cardiovascular disease and shortened survival. Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), the most severe form of chronic kidney disease, exhibit premature aging phenotypes in almost all organ systems, including the immune system. Longitudinal studies of T-cell aging in healthy humans have been scanty because it requires a large number of study subjects and a study duration for decades. In recent years, it became clear that ESRD patients with cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection exhibit enhanced aging-related immune changes than CMV-seropositive individuals without renal disease, including chronic inflammation, decreased numbers of naïve CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, increased clonality of memory T cells with skewed repertoire and shortened telomeres. These findings lead to the hypothesis that the uremic milieu and treatment for renal failure can lead to premature aging of T cells independent from CMV infection and suggest that ESRD can be an important disease model for studying human aging. Future studies deciphering the underlying mechanisms of accelerated T cell aging in ESRD patients may eventually reveal additional insights into T-cell persistence and function during aging in CMV-seropositive, non-ESRD individuals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- TienYu Owen Yang
- Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Wycombe Hospital, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, High Wycombe, UK
| | - Yi-Fang Chuang
- International Health Program, National Yang Ming University School of Public Health, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Epidemiology, National Yang Ming University School of Public Health, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Ling Chiu
- Graduate Program in Biomedical Informatics, Yuan Ze University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, 100, Taiwan.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
T-cell immunity against cytomegalovirus in HIV infection and aging: relationships with inflammation, immune activation, and frailty. Med Microbiol Immunol 2019; 208:289-294. [PMID: 30900090 DOI: 10.1007/s00430-019-00591-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Both aging and treated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are characterized by low-level chronic inflammation and immune activation which contribute to the development of age-related diseases, frailty, and early mortality. Chronic cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is highly prevalent in older adults and HIV-infected populations. A number of studies have shown that CMV induces broad and strong T-cell responses in CMV-seropositive older adults and HIV-infected individuals. CMV infection rarely develops into clinical disease in immunocompetent individuals. However, a large body of literature has shown adverse effects of chronic CMV infection on the health and longevity of these populations. It has been hypothesized that chronic CMV infection may be a driver of chronic inflammation and immune activation, and may further contribute to the development of frailty. Thus, there is a need to better understand the extent of the impact of chronic CMV infection on T-cell immunity and health in aging and HIV infection. In this review, we will address important considerations and challenges in the assessment of chronic CMV infection and CMV-specific T-cell responses. We will then review recent data on relationships between T-cell responses to CMV and levels of inflammatory markers and immune activation, as well as the onset of frailty.
Collapse
|
8
|
Luo XH, Meng Q, Rao M, Liu Z, Paraschoudi G, Dodoo E, Maeurer M. The impact of inflationary cytomegalovirus-specific memory T cells on anti-tumour immune responses in patients with cancer. Immunology 2018; 155:294-308. [PMID: 30098205 DOI: 10.1111/imm.12991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Revised: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a ubiquitous, persistent beta herpesvirus. CMV infection contributes to the accumulation of functional antigen-specific CD8+ T-cell pools with an effector-memory phenotype and enrichment of these immune cells in peripheral organs. We review here this 'memory T-cell inflation' phenomenon and associated factors including age and sex. 'Collateral damage' due to CMV-directed immune reactivity may occur in later stages of life - arising from CMV-specific immune responses that were beneficial in earlier life. CMV may be considered an age-dependent immunomodulator and a double-edged sword in editing anti-tumour immune responses. Emerging evidence suggests that CMV is highly prevalent in patients with a variety of cancers, particularly glioblastoma. A better understanding of CMV-associated immune responses and its implications for immune senescence, especially in patients with cancer, may aid in the design of more clinically relevant and tailored, personalized treatment regimens. 'Memory T-cell inflation' could be applied in vaccine development strategies to enrich for immune reactivity where long-term immunological memory is needed, e.g. in long-term immune memory formation directed against transformed cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Hua Luo
- Therapeutic Immunology Unit, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Haematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, China
| | - Qingda Meng
- Therapeutic Immunology Unit, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Martin Rao
- Therapeutic Immunology Unit, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Zhenjiang Liu
- Therapeutic Immunology Unit, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Georgia Paraschoudi
- Therapeutic Immunology Unit, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ernest Dodoo
- Therapeutic Immunology Unit, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Neurosurgery, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Markus Maeurer
- Therapeutic Immunology Unit, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Centre for Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Terrazzini N, Mantegani P, Kern F, Fortis C, Mondino A, Caserta S. Interleukin-7 Unveils Pathogen-Specific T Cells by Enhancing Antigen-Recall Responses. J Infect Dis 2018; 217:1997-2007. [PMID: 29506153 PMCID: PMC5972594 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiy096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2017] [Accepted: 02/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Interleukin (IL)-7 promotes the generation, expansion, and survival of memory T cells. Previous mouse and human studies showed that IL-7 can support immune cell reconstitution in lymphopenic conditions, expand tumor-reactive T cells for adoptive immunotherapy, and enhance effector cytokine expression by autoreactive T cells. Whether pathogen-reactive T cells also benefit from IL-7 exposure remains unknown. Methods In this study, we investigated this issue in cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) derived from patients infected with various endemic pathogens. After short-term exposure to IL-7, we measured PBMC responses to antigens derived from pathogens, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Candida albicans, and cytomegalovirus, and to the superantigen Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B. Results We found that IL-7 favored the expansion and, in some instances, the uncovering of pathogen-reactive CD4 T cells, by promoting pathogen-specific interferon-γ, IL-2, and tumor necrosis factor recall responses. Conclusions Our findings indicate that IL-7 unveils and supports reactivation of pathogen-specific T cells with possible diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic significance of clinical value, especially in conditions of pathogen persistence and chronic infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Terrazzini
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Paola Mantegani
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, Clinic of Infectious Diseases, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Florian Kern
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School, The University of Sussex, Falmer, East Sussex, United Kingdom
| | - Claudio Fortis
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, Clinic of Infectious Diseases, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Anna Mondino
- Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Caserta
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School, The University of Sussex, Falmer, East Sussex, United Kingdom
- Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Hull, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Ballegaard V, Brændstrup P, Pedersen KK, Kirkby N, Stryhn A, Ryder LP, Gerstoft J, Nielsen SD. Cytomegalovirus-specific T-cells are associated with immune senescence, but not with systemic inflammation, in people living with HIV. Sci Rep 2018; 8:3778. [PMID: 29491459 PMCID: PMC5830877 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-21347-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2017] [Accepted: 02/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In people living with HIV (PLWHIV), coinfection with cytomegalovirus (CMV) has been associated with inflammation, immunological ageing, and increased risk of severe non-AIDS related comorbidity. The effect of CMV-specific immune responses on systemic inflammation, immune activation and T-cell senescence was evaluated in 53 PLWHIV treated with combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). Activated-, terminally differentiated-, naïve-, and senescent T-cells were assessed by flow cytometry, and plasma levels of CMV IgG, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and soluble-CD14 were measured. In PLWHIV, expression of interleukin-2, tumor necrosis factor-α and interferon-γ was measured by intracellular-cytokine-staining after stimulation of T-cells with CMV-pp65, CMV-IE1, and CMV-gB. Increased CMV-specific T-cell responses were associated with a higher ratio of terminally differentiated/naïve CD8+ T-cells and with increased proportions of senescent CD8+ T-cells, but not with systemic inflammation or sCD14. Increased CMV-specific CD4+ T-cell responses were associated with increased proportions of activated CD8+ T-cells. In PLWHIV with expansion of CMV-specific T-cells or increased T-cell senescence, CMV-specific polyfunctionality was maintained. That the magnitude of the CMV-specific T-cell response was associated with a senescent immune phenotype, suggests that a dysregulated immune response against CMV may contribute to the immunological ageing often described in PLWHIV despite stable cART.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vibe Ballegaard
- Viro-immunology Research Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Peter Brændstrup
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Hematology, Herlev University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Karin Kaereby Pedersen
- Viro-immunology Research Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nikolai Kirkby
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anette Stryhn
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lars P Ryder
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jan Gerstoft
- Viro-immunology Research Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Susanne Dam Nielsen
- Viro-immunology Research Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Preserved immune functionality and high CMV-specific T-cell responses in HIV-infected individuals with poor CD4 + T-cell immune recovery. Sci Rep 2017; 7:11711. [PMID: 28916780 PMCID: PMC5601464 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-12013-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2017] [Accepted: 08/29/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Poor CD4+ T-cell recovery after cART has been associated with skewed T-cell maturation, inflammation and immunosenescence; however, T-cell functionality in those individuals has not been fully characterized. In the present study, we assessed T-cell function by assessing cytokine production after polyclonal, CMV and HIV stimulations of T-cells from ART-suppressed HIV-infected individuals with CD4+ T-cell counts >350 cells/μL (immunoconcordants) or <350 cells/μL (immunodiscordants). A group of HIV-uninfected individuals were also included as controls. Since CMV co-infection significantly affected T-cell maturation and polyfunctionality, only CMV+ individuals were analyzed. Despite their reduced and skewed CD4+ T-cell compartment, immunodiscordant individuals showed preserved polyclonal and HIV-specific responses. However, CMV response in immunodiscordant participants was significantly different from immunoconcordant or HIV-seronegative individuals. In immunodiscordant subjects, the magnitude of IFN-γ+ CD8+ and IL-2+ CD4+ T-cells in response to CMV was higher and differently associated with the CD4+ T-cell maturation profile., showing an increased frequency of naïve, central memory and EMRA CMV-specific CD4+ T-cells. In conclusion, CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell polyfunctionality was not reduced in immunodiscordant individuals, although heightened CMV-specific immune responses, likely related to subclinical CMV reactivations, may be contributing to the skewed T-cell maturation and the higher risk of clinical progression observed in those individuals.
Collapse
|
12
|
Bajwa M, Vita S, Vescovini R, Larsen M, Sansoni P, Terrazzini N, Caserta S, Thomas D, Davies KA, Smith H, Kern F. CMV-Specific T-cell Responses at Older Ages: Broad Responses With a Large Central Memory Component May Be Key to Long-term Survival. J Infect Dis 2017; 215:1212-1220. [PMID: 28199648 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jix080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2016] [Accepted: 12/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection sometimes causes large expansions of CMV-specific T cells, particularly in older people. This is believed to undermine immunity to other pathogens and to accelerate immunosenescence. While multiple different CMV proteins are recognized, most publications on age-related T-cell expansions have focused on dominant target proteins UL83 or UL123, and the T-cell activation marker interferon-γ (IFN-γ). We were concerned that this narrow approach might have skewed our understanding of CMV-specific immunity at older ages. We have, therefore, widened the scope of analysis to include in vitro-induced T-cell responses to 19 frequently recognized CMV proteins in "young" and "older" healthy volunteers and a group of "oldest old" long-term survivors (>85 years of age). Polychromatic flow cytometry was used to analyze T-cell activation markers (CD107, CD154, interleukin-2 [IL-2], tumor necrosis factor [TNF], and IFN-γ) and memory phenotypes (CD27, CD45RA). The older group had, on average, larger T-cell responses than the young, but, interestingly, response size differences were relatively smaller when all activation markers were considered rather than IFN-γ or TNF alone. The oldest old group recognized more proteins on average than the other groups, and had even bigger T-cell responses than the older group with a significantly larger central memory CD4 T-cell component.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martha Bajwa
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine
| | - Serena Vita
- Institute Pasteur, Cenci-Bolognetti Foundation, Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University Sapienza of Rome, and
| | | | - Martin Larsen
- Inserm UMR-S1135, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI-Paris), and.,AP-HP, Groupement Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Département d'Immunologie, Paris, France ; and
| | - Paolo Sansoni
- Dipartimento di Clinica Sperimentale, Università di Parma, Italy
| | - Nadia Terrazzini
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, United Kingdom
| | | | - David Thomas
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine
| | | | - Helen Smith
- Department of Primary Care and Public Health and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Florian Kern
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine
| |
Collapse
|