Convergence of the innate and adaptive immunity during human aging
Aging is associated with profound changes in the human immune system, a phenomenon referred to as immunosenescence. This complex immune remodeling affects the adaptive immune system and the CD8+ T cell compartment in particular, leading to the accumulation of terminally differentiated T cells, which...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2016-11-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Immunology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fimmu.2016.00445/full |
| _version_ | 1818949949231988736 |
|---|---|
| author | Branca Isabel Pereira Arne A Akbar |
| author_facet | Branca Isabel Pereira Arne A Akbar |
| author_sort | Branca Isabel Pereira |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Aging is associated with profound changes in the human immune system, a phenomenon referred to as immunosenescence. This complex immune remodeling affects the adaptive immune system and the CD8+ T cell compartment in particular, leading to the accumulation of terminally differentiated T cells, which can rapidly exert their effector functions at the expenses of a limited proliferative potential. In this review we will discuss evidence suggesting that senescent αβCD8+ T cells acquire the hallmarks of innate-like T cells and use recently acquired NK cell receptors as an alternative mechanism to mediate rapid effector functions. These cells concomitantly lose expression of co-stimulatory receptors and exhibit decreased TCR signaling suggesting a functional shift away from antigen specific activation. The convergence of innate and adaptive features in senescent T cells challenges the classic division between innate and adaptive immune systems. Innate-like T cells are particularly important for stress and tumor surveillance and we propose a new role for these cells in aging, where the acquisition of innate-like functions may represent a beneficial adaptation to an increased burden of malignancy with age, although it may also pose a higher risk of autoimmune disorders. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T09:10:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1c0029a2d29b498cab7b1bf25d0f6d44 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-3224 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T09:10:49Z |
| publishDate | 2016-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Immunology |
| spelling | doaj.art-1c0029a2d29b498cab7b1bf25d0f6d442022-12-21T19:45:34ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242016-11-01710.3389/fimmu.2016.00445229833Convergence of the innate and adaptive immunity during human agingBranca Isabel Pereira0Arne A Akbar1University College LondonUniversity College LondonAging is associated with profound changes in the human immune system, a phenomenon referred to as immunosenescence. This complex immune remodeling affects the adaptive immune system and the CD8+ T cell compartment in particular, leading to the accumulation of terminally differentiated T cells, which can rapidly exert their effector functions at the expenses of a limited proliferative potential. In this review we will discuss evidence suggesting that senescent αβCD8+ T cells acquire the hallmarks of innate-like T cells and use recently acquired NK cell receptors as an alternative mechanism to mediate rapid effector functions. These cells concomitantly lose expression of co-stimulatory receptors and exhibit decreased TCR signaling suggesting a functional shift away from antigen specific activation. The convergence of innate and adaptive features in senescent T cells challenges the classic division between innate and adaptive immune systems. Innate-like T cells are particularly important for stress and tumor surveillance and we propose a new role for these cells in aging, where the acquisition of innate-like functions may represent a beneficial adaptation to an increased burden of malignancy with age, although it may also pose a higher risk of autoimmune disorders.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fimmu.2016.00445/fullAgingT cell receptorimmunosenescenceNatural killer receptorsinnate-like T lymphocytes |
| spellingShingle | Branca Isabel Pereira Arne A Akbar Convergence of the innate and adaptive immunity during human aging Frontiers in Immunology Aging T cell receptor immunosenescence Natural killer receptors innate-like T lymphocytes |
| title | Convergence of the innate and adaptive immunity during human aging |
| title_full | Convergence of the innate and adaptive immunity during human aging |
| title_fullStr | Convergence of the innate and adaptive immunity during human aging |
| title_full_unstemmed | Convergence of the innate and adaptive immunity during human aging |
| title_short | Convergence of the innate and adaptive immunity during human aging |
| title_sort | convergence of the innate and adaptive immunity during human aging |
| topic | Aging T cell receptor immunosenescence Natural killer receptors innate-like T lymphocytes |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fimmu.2016.00445/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT brancaisabelpereira convergenceoftheinnateandadaptiveimmunityduringhumanaging AT arneaakbar convergenceoftheinnateandadaptiveimmunityduringhumanaging |