ALTERATION OF LYMPHOCYTE SUBPOPULATIONS WITH CYTOMEGALOVIRUS-INFECTION IN INFANCY

Abstract

The distribution of immunoglobulin bearing (Ig+), T [thymus-derived] and null lymphocyte subpopulations and the lymphocyte response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM) were determined in 3 [human] infants with cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. These infants had significantly decreased percentages of T [thymus-derived] cells (13%, 29% and 40%) compared to age-matched controls (61 .+-. 2%). Compensatory increases in the percentages of Ig+ and null cells occurred. Decreased lymphocyte reactivity to PHA and PWM occurred in 2 patients. Purified T cells from these patients had normal reactivity indicating a disproportion of T cells in the peripheral blood. These abnormalities may result from CMV infection of lymphocytes and could be responsible for prolonged CMV viruria.