The association between cytomegalovirus infection and aging process

Virginija Kanapeckienė, Julius Kalibatas, Elvyra Redaitienė, Jelena Čeremnych¹

Institute of Hygiene, ¹Institute of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Vilnius University, Lithuania

Key words: cytomegalovirus; immune response; aging.

Summary. Analysis of published scientific data suggests that cytomegalovirus infection has an effect on aging process in human, in particular on immunosenescence, resulting in an increased incidence of infectious diseases and consequent mortality in elderly individuals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between cytomegalovirus infection and a character of aging (premature, physiological, and slow).

Materials and methods. In accordance with special criteria of the assessment of biological age, 146 healthy elderly women aged 60–90 years were divided into three groups: Group 1 – slow aging group (37 women, 25.4%); Group 2 – physiological aging group (58 women, 39.7%); Group 3 – premature aging group (51 women, 34.9%). Immune response to cytomegalovirus was studied using methods of enzyme immunoassay and indirect immunofluorescence.

Results. Comparing immune response to cytomegalovirus in different aging groups, highest titres of both IgG antibodies against early antigens and IgA antibodies against late structural antigens were found in premature aging group. Results showed that premature aging was associated with an increased level of IgA antibodies characteristic for cytomegalovirus symptomatic infection and its frequent reactivations.

Conclusion. Cytomegalovirus infection is associated with an increased risk of premature aging (OR=9.8; P<0.01).

Correspondence to V. Kanapeckienė, Institute of Hygiene, Didžioji 22, 01128 Vilnius, Lithuania. E-mail: virginija.kanapeckiene@hi.lt

Received 4 May 2006, accepted 19 March 2007