IgG-antibodies to individual cytomegalovirus (CMV) proteins and the peripheral blood subpopulation of lymphocytes in patients with anterior uveitis of varying severity

Relevance. Cytomegalovirus (CMV), a human beta-herpesvirus, persists in the human in a latent form for life after infection. CMV reactivation that occurs periodically can cause disease of end organs, including the eye, not only in immunosuppression, but also in immunocompetent people. Due to its immunosuppressive properties, persistent CMV is involved in the pathogenesis of diseases of various etiologies. Aim. To study the features of antibody formation to six individual CMV proteins and to conduct a correlation analysis with the indicators of the subpopulation of blood lymphocytes in patients with anterior uveitis of varying severity (without hypopion-mild course, with hypopion-more severe course). Materials and methods. 36 patients with anterior uveitis were examined. Group I consisted of 20 patients without hypopion, group II 16 people with hypopion. There were no characteristic features of CMV anterior uveitis(elevated intraocular pressure, stromal iris atrophy). IgG antibodies to CMV (markers of chronic infection) were determined in blood sera by ELISA, antibodies to individual recombinant CMV antigens were determined by Line-Immunoassay: to the main non-structural immediate early protein (IE), DNA-binding phosphoprotein p52, phosphoproteins of the tegument p150, p65, p28, GB-AD envelope glycoprotein. The subpopulation of lymphocytes was studied by flow cytometry: T-lymphocytes (CD3+), T-helper cells (CD3+CD4+CD8-), T-cytotoxic (CD3+CD4-CD8+), T-double-positive (CD3+CD4+CD8+), natural killers (CD16+CD56+), B-lymphocytes (CD19+). Statistical analysis was performed using StatTech v. 3.0.2 program (Stattech LLC, Russia). Results. In anterior uveitis of a light course, a statistically significant increase in the relative content of CD16+CD56+ and a decrease in the absolute number of CD3+CD8+ were found compared with anterior uveitis of a heavier course. Only in the group of patients with hypopion (more severe course) there was a direct correlation, a noticeable reliable relationship between the levels of antibodies to IE, p65, p28 antigens and the content of double-positive cells (CD3+CD4+CD8+) and an inverse reliable relationship between the levels of antibodies to IE, p65 and p52 antigens and CD19+ lymphocytes. Conclusion. The results obtained are consistent with the isolated reports on the role of double-positive lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of severe forms of some viral diseases. Further studies are needed to assess the effect of individual viral antigens on CD3+CD4+CD8+ content in patients with chronic CMV infection to confirm the role of double - positive lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of a more severe course of anterior uveitis.