It is well accepted that aging and HIV infection are associated with quantitative and functional changes of CMV-specific T cell responses. We studied here the expression of Mip-1 beta and the T cell maturation marker CD27 within CMVpp65-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells in relation to age, HIV and active Tuberculosis (TB) co-infection in a cohort of Tanzanian volunteers (<= 16 years of age, n = 108 and >= 18 years, n = 79). Independent of HIV co-infection, IFN gamma(+) CMVpp65-specific CD4(+) T cell frequencies increased with age. In adults, HIV co-infection further increased the frequencies of these cells. A high capacity for Mip-1 beta production together with a CD27(low) phenotype was characteristic for these cells in children and adults. Interestingly, in addition to HIV co-infection active TB disease was linked to further down regulation of CD27 and increased capacity of Mip-1 beta production in CMVpp65-specific CD4(+) T cells. These phenotypic and functional changes of CMVpp65-specific CD4(+) T cells observed during HIV infection and active TB could be associated with increased CMV reactivation rates.