Adaptive immune responses against common viruses are sustained and functional in end-of-life patients
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Viral infections occur with increased frequency in patients in palliative care, impacting their quality of life and increasing mortality rates. Still, the function of the immune system has never been thoroughly studied at the end of life. We investigated virus-specific humoral and cellular immune responses in elderly end-of-life patients ( n = 38) and controls ( n = 28). Virus-specific T cell responses were characterized using high-parameter flow cytometry, after stimulation with cytomegalovirus (CMV) and human coronavirus OC43 peptides. Although some virus-specific T cells from patients exhibited elevated expression of costimulatory and coinhibitory molecules, their functional profile remained largely intact compared to controls. The expression of the cytotoxic markers Granzyme B, CD107a, and 2B4 on CMV-specific T cells correlated closely with survival time. Significantly, our data demonstrate that both humoral and cellular immunity remain responsive and functional against common viruses in end-of-life patients.
Source: iScience
Language: English
Topic: T-cell and B-cell Immunology
Subfield: Immunology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,240
Awards: G100043991, G1930933493, Clinical and translational studies on cancer related fatigue in palliative care. Focus on vitamin D and the immune system., G3004148758, G3122454275, Cellular and molecular dynamics of antigen-specific T cells in HIV-treated children, pregnant women, and human cancer affecting immune function, development and health, G729856924
OpenAlex ID: W4407836966