Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Comp Med. 2021 Apr 1;71(2):177-187. doi: 10.30802/AALAS-CM-20-000068. Epub 2021 Feb 12.
Aging of the immune system is characterized by the loss of naïve T-cells, increased inflammation, and immune function impairment. Chronic infection with cytomegalovirus is thought to play a role in age-related changes in immunity. Therefore, to assess the effect of pathogens such as cytomegalovirus on the immune system, we determined lymphocyte populations and inflammatory markers over a 3-y period in captive, middle-age baboons, with various exposure to pathogens and shedding pressure. Groups included SPF (i.e., pathogen-negative; = 14); large-group, conventionally housed (CONV LG; pathogen- positive; = 14), and small-group, conventionally housed (CONV SM; pathogen-positive; = 7). All baboon groups showed a decrease in CD45RA+ CD28+ (i.e., naive) cells over time during middle age, but the rate of decline appeared faster in CONV LG baboons than in the other groups. In addition, the reduction in CD45RA+ CD28+ cells in the CONV LG baboons coincided with higher IgG levels against baboon cytomegalovirus, increased serum cortisol concentration, and a greater inflammatory phenotype. The results of this project support a role for cytomegalovirus infection in immune system alterations in middle-aged baboons.
免疫系统的衰老表现为幼稚 T 细胞的丧失、炎症增加和免疫功能受损。巨细胞病毒的慢性感染被认为在与年龄相关的免疫变化中起作用。因此，为了评估巨细胞病毒等病原体对免疫系统的影响，我们在 3 年内确定了被圈养的中年狒狒中的淋巴细胞群和炎症标志物，这些狒狒存在不同的病原体暴露和脱落压力。研究对象包括 SPF（即无病原体；n = 14）、大群体常规饲养（CONV LG；有病原体；n = 14）和小群体常规饲养（CONV SM；有病原体；n = 7）。所有狒狒群体在中年期间都表现出 CD45RA+CD28+（即幼稚）细胞随时间的减少，但 CONV LG 狒狒的减少速度似乎比其他群体更快。此外，CONV LG 狒狒中 CD45RA+CD28+细胞的减少与针对狒狒巨细胞病毒的 IgG 水平升高、血清皮质醇浓度增加和炎症表型更大有关。该项目的结果支持巨细胞病毒感染在中年狒狒免疫系统改变中的作用。
