The effects of HCMV seropositivity and BMI degree on T cell immunophenotype in adults

Aim

Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a latent virus widely spread in the human population. Obesity and HCMV infection are associated with immunological changes in T lymphocytes. This study aimed to evaluate if the association between overweight/obesity and HCMV infection would influence populations of peripheral blood T lymphocytes.

Methods

Plasma and peripheral mononuclear cells were isolated from 111 individuals. The biochemical markers and anti-HCMV IgG were quantified in the plasma. The individuals were classified as eutrophic, overweight or obese, based on their body mass index. The lymphocyte populations helper T cells, cytotoxic T cells, memory T regulatory cells, memory effector T cells, early differentiated effector memory cytotoxic T cells, and terminally differentiated effector memory cytotoxic T cells were quantified by flow cytometry.

Results

Approximately half of the individuals studied (46.5%) were seropositive for HCMV, of which 14.1% were eutrophic, 8.1% overweight, and 24.32% were obese. The results showed a substantial reduction in the CD4:CD8 ratio in patients with overweight or obesity, and an increase in the circulating terminally differentiated effector memory cytotoxic T cells, both associated with HCMV positive serology.

Conclusions

HCMV infection, when associated with weight gain contributes to the profile of immunological senescence mediated by an increase in the number of circulating terminally differentiated cytotoxic T cells.