The balance between influenza- and RSV-specific CD4 T cells secreting IL-10 or IFNγ in young and healthy-elderly subjects

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza virus cause severe disease in elderly patients. The balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines may be critical in determining disease pathogenesis and outcome of infection. The frequencies of CD4 IL-10 (anti-inflammatory)- and CD4 and CD8 IFNγ (pro-inflammatory)-secreting memory T cells specific for either RSV or influenza were not significantly different between young and elderly groups, although the ratio of IL-10/IFNγ was significantly reduced in the elderly RSV response. A similar trend was seen for influenza. IFNγ-secreting CD4 T cells contributed significantly more to anti-RSV than anti-influenza responses in both groups.