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Human immunosenescence: is it infectious?
Graham Pawelec1, Arne Akbar, Calogero Caruso
1University of Tübingen Medical School, Center for Medical Research, ZMF, Germany. graham.pawelec@uni-tuebingen.de
Immunological Reviews
|May 11, 2005
Summary
The aging immune system (immunosenescence) makes older adults more vulnerable to infections. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a key driver of immune changes, increasing mortality risk in the elderly.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Gerontology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Infectious disease morbidity and mortality are higher in the elderly due to age-related immune decline.
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV) seropositivity is linked to T-cell alterations mirroring those seen in aging.
- The 'immune risk phenotype' (IRP) in the elderly predicts mortality and is associated with CMV.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the hypothesis that CMV-host immune interactions critically determine the IRP and predict mortality.
- To explore the concept of 'contagious immunosenescence' driven by CMV.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of T-cell populations (oligoclonal expansions, CD8(+) cells) in the elderly.
- Correlation of CMV seropositivity with T-cell phenotypes and functions.
- Review of longitudinal studies on IRP and mortality in aging populations.
Main Results:
- CMV is identified as the primary driver of oligoclonal T-cell expansions and altered immune cell functions in the elderly.
- CMV seropositivity is strongly associated with the mortality-predicting IRP.
- The interaction between CMV and the immune system is crucial for developing the IRP.
Conclusions:
- The interaction between cytomegalovirus and the host immune system is a critical determinant of the immune risk phenotype and mortality in the elderly.
- Immunosenescence, particularly as influenced by CMV, may be considered 'contagious'.