New advances in CMV and immunosenescence

• Published in: Experimental gerontology Vol. 55; pp. 54 - 62
• Main Authors: Sansoni, Paolo, Vescovini, Rosanna, Fagnoni, Francesco F., Akbar, Arne, Arens, Ramon, Chiu, Yen-Ling, Čičin-Šain, Luka, Dechanet-Merville, Julie, Derhovanessian, Evelyna, Ferrando-Martinez, Sara, Franceschi, Claudio, Frasca, Daniela, Fulöp, Tamas, Furman, David, Gkrania-Klotsas, Effrossyni, Goodrum, Felicia, Grubeck-Loebenstein, Beatrix, Hurme, Mikko, Kern, Florian, Lilleri, Daniele, López-Botet, Miguel, Maier, Andrea B., Marandu, Thomas, Marchant, Arnaud, Matheï, Catharina, Moss, Paul, Muntasell, Aura, Remmerswaal, Ester B.M., Riddell, Natalie E., Rothe, Kathrin, Sauce, Delphine, Shin, Eui-Cheol, Simanek, Amanda M., Smithey, Megan J., Söderberg-Nauclér, Cecilia, Solana, Rafael, Thomas, Paul G., van Lier, Rene, Pawelec, Graham, Nikolich-Zugich, Janko
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Inc 01-07-2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aging - immunology; Cytomegalovirus; Cytomegalovirus - immunology; Cytomegalovirus - physiology; Cytomegalovirus infection; Cytomegalovirus Infections - immunology; Cytomegalovirus Infections - virology; Host-Pathogen Interactions - immunology; Human cytomegalovirus; Humans; Immune homeostasis; Immunology; Immunosenescence; Life Sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Pathologies of aging; Virus Latency - immunology; Virus-host interaction; Immunosenescence; Virus-host interaction; Pathologies of aging; Cytomegalovirus infection; Immune homeostasis
• ISSN: 0531-5565; 1873-6815; 1873-6815
• DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2014.03.020

Immunosenescence, defined as the age-associated dysregulation and dysfunction of the immune system, is characterized by impaired protective immunity and decreased efficacy of vaccines. An increasing number of immunological, clinical and epidemiological studies suggest that persistent Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is associated with accelerated aging of the immune system and with several age-related diseases. However, current evidence on whether and how human CMV (HCMV) infection is implicated in immunosenescence and in age-related diseases remains incomplete and many aspects of CMV involvement in immune aging remain controversial. The attendees of the 4th International Workshop on “CMV & Immunosenescence”, held in Parma, Italy, 25–27th March, 2013, presented and discussed data related to these open questions, which are reported in this commentary.
•The 4th International Workshop on “CMV & Immunosenescence”, was held in Parma, Italy, 25–27th March, 2013.•Some mechanisms of virus–host interaction were discussed.•Clinical significance of HCMV infection was explored in some age-related pathologies.•HCMV could be detrimental, neutral or even beneficial to the host's immune defense.