Cellular immunity; Cytokines; HCMV; Immune system; T cells

Cytomegalovirus is one of the most immunodominant antigens that are encountered by the human immune system. The human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) exhibits a broad cellular tropism and can infect most major organ systems and cell types. Immunologic control of HCMV replication includes several distinct categories of effector cells: natural killer cells, macrophages, B cells and T cells however virus-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T cells appear to play a pivotal role. The importance of cell mediated immunity against CMV is exemplified by the occurrence of severe and prolonged HCMV infection in immunocompromised individuals, including transplant recipients, late stage -HIV patients, congenitally infected neonates, elderly subjects and/or septic patients. Severely impaired T-cell function leads to viral reactivation and consequences are widely variable, ranging from asymptomatic infections to life-threatening situations...