Aging of the T Cell Compartment in Mice and Humans: From No Naive Expectations to Foggy Memories
Year: 2014
Type: review
Abstract: Until the mid-20th century, infectious diseases were the major cause of morbidity and mortality in humans. Massive vaccination campaigns, antibiotics, antivirals, and advanced public health measures drastically reduced sickness and death from infections in children and younger adults. However, older adults (>65 y of age) remain vulnerable to infections, and infectious diseases remain among the top 5-10 causes of death in this population. The aging of the immune system, often referred to as immune senescence, is the key phenomenon underlying this vulnerability. This review centers on age-related changes in T cells, which are dramatically and reproducibly altered with aging. I discuss changes in T cell production, maintenance, function, and response to latent persistent infection, particularly against CMV, which exerts a profound influence on the aging T cell pool, concluding with a brief list of measures to improve immune function in older adults.
Source: The Journal of Immunology
Author: Janko Nikolich-Žugich
Institution: University of Arizona
Language: English
Topic: T-cell and B-cell Immunology
Subfield: Immunology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
Awards: Pacific NorthWest Regional Center of Excellence (PNWRCE), Immune Function and Biodefense in Children, Elderly, and the Immunocrompromised, G2656187391, MECHANISMS OF REDUCED T-CELL IMMUNITY IN OLDER ADULTS, G4732079965, Rejuvenation of the T-cell compartment in aging primates, G5730477906, T cell Homeostasis and Function in Immune Senescence, G8088900954, T Cell Homeostasis and Function in Immune Senescence
OpenAlex ID: W1922712900