T-Cell Responses in Adults During Natural Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in older adults may be due to age-related T-cell immunosenescence. Thus, we evaluated CD4 and CD8 T-cell responses during RSV infection in adults across the age spectrum. METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells collected during RSV infection in adults, age 26–96 years, were stimulated with live RSV and peptide pools representing F, M, NP, and G proteins and analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: There were no significant age-related differences in frequency of CD4(+) T cells synthesizing interferon (IFN)γ, interleukin (IL)2, IL4, IL10, or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α or in CD8(+)IFNγ(+) T cells. IL4(+)CD4(+) T-cell numbers were low, as were IL13 and IL17 responses. However, in univariate analysis, CD4 T-cell IFNγ, IL2, IL4, IL10, and TNFα responses and CD8(+)IFNγ(+) T cells were significantly increased with more severe illness requiring hospitalization. In multivariate analysis, viral load was also associated with increased T-cell responses. CONCLUSIONS: We found no evidence of diminished RSV-specific CD4 or CD8 T-cell responses in adults infected with RSV. However, adults with severe disease seemed to have more robust CD4 and CD8 T-cell responses during infection, suggesting that disease severity may have a greater association with T-cell responses than age.