Compromised CD8+ T cell immunity in the aged brain increases severity of neurotropic coronavirus infection and postinfectious cognitive impairment.

ABSTRACT: Advanced age increases the risk of severe disease from SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as incidence of long COVID and SARS-CoV-2 reinfection. We hypothesized that perturbations in the aged antiviral CD8⁺ T cell response predisposes elderly individuals to severe coronavirus infection, re-infection, and postinfectious cognitive sequelae. Using MHV-A59 as a murine model of respiratory coronavirus, we found that aging increased CNS infection and lethality to MHV infection. This was coupled with increased CD8⁺ T cells within the aged CNS but reduced antigen specificity. Aged animals also displayed a decreased proportion of CD103⁺ resident memory cells (T_RM), which correlated with increased severity of secondary viral challenge. Using a reciprocal adopti

SUBMITTER: Reagin KL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11896202 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature