tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2012 Mar;67(3):254-63. Epub 2012 Mar 5.
T-cell biology in aging, with a focus on lung disease.
Lee N, Shin MS, Kang I.
Source
Section of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, S525C TAC, 300 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520. insoo.kang@yale.edu.
Abstract
T cells are essential for defending hosts against microorganisms and malignancy as well as for regulating the development of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases like autoimmunity. Alterations in T-cell immunity occur with aging, affecting the function and proportions of T-cell subsets. Probably, the most noticeable age-associated change in T-cell immunity is an alteration in the frequency of naive and memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. In fact, the frequency of naive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells decreases with aging, whereas the frequency of memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells increases. Also, changes in T-cell proliferation, cytokine production, memory response, and cytotoxicity as well as in regulatory T-cell number and function have been reported with aging. Such alterations could contribute to the development of infections, malignancies, and inflammatory diseases that rise with aging. Of interest, T cells are closely involved in the development of inflammatory airway and lung diseases including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which are prevalent in the elderly people. In addition, T cells play a major role in defending host against influenza virus infection, a serious medical problem with high morbidity and mortality in the elderly people. Thus, it is conceivable that altered T-cell immunity may account in part for the development of such respiratory problems with aging. Here, we will review the recent advances in T-cell immunity and its alteration with aging and discuss the potential effects of such changes on the lung.
PMID:
22396471
[PubMed - in process]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22396471
T-cell biology in aging, with a focus on lung disease.
Lee N, Shin MS, Kang I.
Source
Section of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, S525C TAC, 300 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520. insoo.kang@yale.edu.
Abstract
T cells are essential for defending hosts against microorganisms and malignancy as well as for regulating the development of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases like autoimmunity. Alterations in T-cell immunity occur with aging, affecting the function and proportions of T-cell subsets. Probably, the most noticeable age-associated change in T-cell immunity is an alteration in the frequency of naive and memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. In fact, the frequency of naive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells decreases with aging, whereas the frequency of memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells increases. Also, changes in T-cell proliferation, cytokine production, memory response, and cytotoxicity as well as in regulatory T-cell number and function have been reported with aging. Such alterations could contribute to the development of infections, malignancies, and inflammatory diseases that rise with aging. Of interest, T cells are closely involved in the development of inflammatory airway and lung diseases including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which are prevalent in the elderly people. In addition, T cells play a major role in defending host against influenza virus infection, a serious medical problem with high morbidity and mortality in the elderly people. Thus, it is conceivable that altered T-cell immunity may account in part for the development of such respiratory problems with aging. Here, we will review the recent advances in T-cell immunity and its alteration with aging and discuss the potential effects of such changes on the lung.
PMID:
22396471
[PubMed - in process]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22396471