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Lymphocyte responses to varicella zoster virus in the elderly

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Abstract

Elderly subjects (age 75–95 years) immune to varicella zoster virus (VZV) were identified by the presence of serum IgG antibody. The frequency of lymphocytes in their blood which proliferated in varicella zoster virus antigen-stimulated cultures was 1:78,000±6600. This is less than the 1:14,000±2000 frequency of VZV-responsive lymphocytes in blood from younger adult (20–43 years) donors. Elderly donors' blood mononuclear cells were less efficient than those of younger adults at lysing VZV-infected fibroblasts but not K562 target cells. The lysis of VZV target cells by elderly donors' MNC increased to control levels in the presence of 10 U/ml of interleukin-2 (IL-2). These results suggest that mononuclear cells capable of killing VZV-infected target cells persist with aging but that reduced numbers of antigenresponsive and lymphokine-releasing T cells may limit their function.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Pediatrics and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, and Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, 80262, Denver, Colorado

    Anthony R. Hayward & Mark Herberger

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  1. Anthony R. Hayward
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  2. Mark Herberger
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Hayward, A.R., Herberger, M. Lymphocyte responses to varicella zoster virus in the elderly. J Clin Immunol 7, 174–178 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00916011

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