Variability and gender differences in memory T cell immunity to varicella-zoster virus in healthy adults

Nicola P Klein; Tyson H Holmes; Margaret A Sharp; Thomas C Heineman; Mark R Schleiss; David I Bernstein; George Kemble; Ann M Arvin; Cornelia L Dekker

doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2006.04.060

Variability and gender differences in memory T cell immunity to varicella-zoster virus in healthy adults

Vaccine. 2006 Aug 14;24(33-34):5913-8. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2006.04.060. Epub 2006 May 9.

Authors

Nicola P Klein¹, Tyson H Holmes, Margaret A Sharp, Thomas C Heineman, Mark R Schleiss, David I Bernstein, George Kemble, Ann M Arvin, Cornelia L Dekker

Affiliation

¹ Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305-520, USA. nklein@stanford.edu

PMID: 16759768
DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2006.04.060

Abstract

Latent varicella zoster virus (VZV) can reactivate and cause zoster, the prevention of which relies upon cellular immunity to VZV. To assess temporal variation of VZV cell-mediated immunity in healthy naturally immune adults, we evaluated VZV-specific responder cell frequencies (RCF) longitudinally over 1 year in each of 25 adults. VZV-specific CD4+ T cells were detected (p < 0.003) and showed minimal variability in RCF. Additional analysis of VZV T cell RCF revealed differences between genders, with only males (p < 0.005) having detectable VZV-specific memory CD4+ T cell responses by this method. Taken together, results suggest that further studies regarding immunization of younger adults and females with the modified, high-potency live attenuated VZV vaccine may be warranted.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
Female
Herpesvirus 3, Human / immunology*
Humans
Immunologic Memory*
Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Middle Aged
Sex Characteristics
Time Factors

Substances

Interferon-gamma