Aging Compromises Terminal Differentiation Program of Cytotoxic Effector Lineage and Promotes Exhaustion in CD8

Ziang Zhu, Guohua Lou, Ying Luo, Kiddist Yihunie, Jonathan Hoar, Juan A Daniel, Bret M Evers, Chen Yao, Tuoqi Wu

Department of Immunology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.Department of Immunology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA. · pubmed

Paper

Abstract

T cell aging increases the risk of viral infection-related morbidity and mortality and reduces vaccine efficacy in the elderly. A major hallmark of T cell aging is the loss of quiescence and shift toward terminal differentiation during homeostasis. However, how aging impacts the differentiation program of virus-specific T cells during infection is unclear. Here, in a murine coronavirus (MHV) infection model with age-associated increased mortality, we demonstrate that aging impairs, instead of promoting, the terminal differentiation program of virus-specific CD8

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Research summary

Aging impairs the terminal differentiation program of virus-specific CD8 T cells during infection. This research addresses the mechanisms of T cell aging, which is directly related to understanding and potentially mitigating age-related declines in immune function, thus contributing to longevity research.

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