Gain and loss of T cell subsets in old age—age-related reshaping of the T cell repertoire

CR Arnold, J Wolf, S Brunner… - Journal of clinical …, 2011 - Springer
CR Arnold, J Wolf, S Brunner, D Herndler-Brandstetter, B Grubeck-Loebenstein
Journal of clinical immunology, 2011Springer
The immune system is affected by the aging process and undergoes significant age-related
changes, termed immunosenescence. Different T cell subsets are affected by this process.
Alterations within the bone marrow and thymus lead to a shift in the composition of the T cell
repertoire from naïve to antigen-experienced T cells, thereby compromising the diversity of
the T cell pool. Additional infection with latent pathogens such as cytomegalovirus
aggravates this process. In this review, we focus on the major age-related changes that …
Abstract
The immune system is affected by the aging process and undergoes significant age-related changes, termed immunosenescence. Different T cell subsets are affected by this process. Alterations within the bone marrow and thymus lead to a shift in the composition of the T cell repertoire from naïve to antigen-experienced T cells, thereby compromising the diversity of the T cell pool. Additional infection with latent pathogens such as cytomegalovirus aggravates this process. In this review, we focus on the major age-related changes that occur in the naïve and the antigen-experienced T cell population. We discuss the mechanisms responsible for the generation and maintenance of these subsets and how age-related changes can be delayed or prevented by clinical interventions.
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