Differential effects of age, cytomegalovirus-seropositivity and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on circulating T lymphocyte subsets

Abstract

The age- and cytomegalovirus (CMV)-seropositivity-related changes in subsets and differentiation of circulating T cells were investigated in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients (n = 139) and age-matched healthy individuals. The results show that CMV-seropositivity is associated with expansion of both CD4+and CD8+memory T cells which is already observed in young healthy individuals. In addition, CMV-seropositive healthy individuals have a more differentiated memory T cell profile. Only CMV-seropositive healthy individuals showed an age-dependent decrease in CD4+näve T cells. The age-related decrease in the number of CD8+näve T cells was CMV-independent. In contrast, all ESRD patients showed a profound näve T-cell lymphopenia at every decade. CMV-seropositivity aggravated the contraction of CD4+näve T cells and increased the number of differentiated CD4+and CD8+memory T cells. In conclusion, CMV-seropositivity markedly alters the homeostasis of circulating T cells in healthy individuals and aggravates the T cell dysregulation observed in ESRD patients.© 2011 Litjens et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.