Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Description Aging is a risk factor for increased susceptibility to infectious diseases, including varicella-zoster virus (VZV) reactivation, which manifests as shingles in older individuals. The age-related decline in VZV-specific memory CD4 T cell frequencies correlates with a higher risk of VZV reactivation. However, the heterogeneity and functionality of VZV-specific memory T cells in older individuals remain poorly understood. To address this, we characterized VZV-specific memory CD4 T cells in young and older individuals using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). In older individuals, the CD4 T cell compartment exhibited a shift from naive CD4 T cells toward more differentiated memory and cytotoxic CD4 T cells. Upon activation with cognate antigens, highly proliferative VZV-specific T cells showed considerable heterogeneity, comprising subsets with cycling, less differentiated stem-like, regulatory, and highly differentiated effector features. Notably, individual variability in the effector functions of VZV-specific memory CD4 T cells was prominent and comparable between young and older individuals. This study highlights the complexity and individual heterogeneity of VZV-specific memory T cell responses, providing insights into their diverse functional landscapes across age. Funding Sources Supported by RS-2024-00454270 Topic Categories Viral Immunology (VIR)
Source: The Journal of Immunology
Authors: Chulwoo Kim, Minju Choi, Hojin Lee, Jungmin Choi
Institution: Korea University
Language: English
Topic: T-cell and B-cell Immunology
Subfield: Immunology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4416447088
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