Abstract
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and persistent cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection are postulated contributors to inflammatory processes that impact on the age-related decline in T-cell responses to influenza vaccination. Older subjects with T2DM (n = 30) and healthy aged controls (n = 40) were enrolled and received influenza vaccination in this study. Serum inflammatory markers and CMV serostatus were measured. Pre- to post-vaccination changes in serum antibody titers to the A/H3N2 strain, and levels of granzyme B (GrB, cytotoxic T lymphocytes) in lysates and cytokines in supernatants from influenza A/H3N2-challenged peripheral blood mononuclear cells were measured. We found no difference between the T2DM and healthy groups in the immune responses measured. However, CMV serostatus was a key determinant of the GrB response to influenza challenge; CMV+ subjects had low levels of inducible GrB (iGrB) activity in response to influenza challenge. In contrast, the serum antibody response to the A/H3N2 vaccine strain did not differ with CMV serostatus, and serum levels of the inflammatory marker, β2-microglobulin, were positively correlated with age, T2DM, and serum IL-10 levels. In conclusion, CMV seropositivity associated with a decline in GrB responses to influenza may predict increased susceptibility to influenza in older adults.