Immune Protection against Virus Challenge in Aging Mice Is Not Affected by Latent Herpesviral Infections

J Virol. 2015 Nov;89(22):11715-7. doi: 10.1128/JVI.01989-15. Epub 2015 Sep 2.

Abstract

Latent herpesvirus infections alter immune homeostasis. To understand if this results in aging-related loss of immune protection against emerging infections, we challenged old mice carrying latent mouse cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), and/or murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV-68) with influenza virus, West Nile virus (WNV), or vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). We observed no increase in mortality or weight loss compared to results seen with herpesvirus-negative counterparts and a relative but not absolute reduction in CD8 responses to acute infections. Therefore, the presence of herpesviruses does not appear to increase susceptibility to emerging infections in aging patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aging / immunology*
  • Animals
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Herpesviridae Infections / immunology*
  • Herpesvirus 1, Human / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Muromegalovirus / immunology
  • Orthomyxoviridae / immunology
  • Rhadinovirus / immunology
  • Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus / immunology
  • Virus Latency*
  • West Nile virus / immunology