Lifelong cytomegalovirus and early-LIFE irradiation synergistically potentiate age-related defects in response to vaccination and infection.

ABSTRACT: While whole-body irradiation (WBI) can induce some hallmarks of immune aging, (re)activation of persistent microbial infection also occurs following WBI and may contribute to immune effects of WBI over the lifespan. To test this hypothesis in a model relevant to human immune aging, we examined separate and joint effects of lifelong latent murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) and of early-life WBI over the course of the lifespan. In late life, we then measured the response to a West Nile virus (WNV) live attenuated vaccine, and lethal WNV challenge subsequent to vaccination. We recently published that a single dose of non-lethal WBI in youth, on its own, was not sufficient to accelerate aging of the murine immune system, despite widespread DNA damage and repopulation stress in hematopoietic cells.

SUBMITTER: Pugh JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9282846 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature