The effect of early life cytomegalovirus infection on the immune profile of children

: Ekman, Ilse; Schroderus, Anna-Mari; Vuorinen, Tytti; Knip, Mikael; Veijola, Riitta; Toppari, Jorma; Ilonen, Jorma; Lempainen, Johanna; Kinnunen, Tuure

Publisher: Academic Press

: 2024

: Clinical Immunology

: 110330

: 266

: 1521-6616

: 1521-7035

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clim.2024.110330(external)

: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clim.2024.110330(external)

: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/457323481(external)

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection has a life-long impact on the immune system, particularly on memory T cells. However, the effect of early life CMV infection on the phenotype and functionality of T cells in infants and especially longitudinal changes occurring during childhood have not been explored in detail. The phenotype and functionality of peripheral blood CD8+ and CD4+ T cells from children infected with CMV in early life (< 6 months of age) was analyzed using high-dimensional flow cytometry. Samples from CMV IgG-seropositive (CMV+) children were collected at 6 months and 6 years of age and compared to samples from CMV-seronegative (CMV-) children. Early life CMV infection caused multiple alterations within T cells. These include downregulation of CD28 expression and upregulation of CD57 expression within both CD27+ early and CD27- late effector memory CD8+ and CD4+ T-cells at 6 months of age. Of these changes, only alterations within the highly differentiated late effector memory compartment persisted at the age of 6 years. Early life CMV-infection has a distinct impact on developing CD8+ and CD4+ memory T cell compartments. It appears to induce both temporary as well as longer-lasting alterations, which may affect the functionality of the immune system throughout life.

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This work was supported by the Academy of Finland (decision no. 331282 ) and the Sigrid Jusélius Foundation.