Associations of Smoking, Cytomegalovirus Serostatus, and Natural Killer Cell Phenotypes in Smokers With and At Risk for COPD.

Introduction: Chronic obstructive disease (COPD) risk factors, smoking, and chronic infection (cytomegalovirus [CMV]) may mold natural killer (NK) cell populations. What is not known is the magnitude of the effect CMV seropositivity imparts on populations of smokers with and at risk for COPD. We investigate the independent influence of CMV seropositivity on NK cell populations and differential effects when stratifying by COPD and degree of smoking history.

Methods: Descriptive statistics determine the relationship between cytotoxic NK cell populations and demographic and clinical variables. Multivariable linear regression and predictive modeling were performed to determine associations between positive CMV serology and proportions of CD57+ and natural killer group 2C (NKG2C)+ NK cells. We dichotomized our analysis by those with a heavy smoking history and COPD and described the effect size of CMV seropositivity on NK cell populations.

Results: When controlled for age, race, sex, pack-years smoked, body mass index, and lung function, CMV+ serostatus was independently associated with a higher proportion of CD57+, NKG2C+, and NKG2C+CD57+ NK cells. CMV+ serostatus was the sole predictor of larger NKG2C+ and CD57+NKG2C+ populations. Associations are more pronounced in those with COPD and heavy smokers.

Conclusions: Among Veterans who are current and former smokers, CMV+ serostatus was independently associated with larger CD57+ and NKG2C+ populations, with a larger effect in heavy smokers and those with COPD, and was the sole predictor for increased expression of NKG2C+ and CD57+NKG2C+ populations. These findings may be broadened to include the assessment of longitudinal NK cell population change, accrued inflammatory potential, and further identification of pro-inflammatory NK cell population clusters.