T lymphocytes and aging.
Some of the key features of aging effects on T lymphocytes have been illuminated in the last few years from new angles. Experimental evidence indicates a profound increase in the proportion of memory versus naive types of T cells, a decline in the response to activation and in the capacity to enter the cycle, and decline in levels of IL-2, yet an increase in various other cytokines. At least part of these changes are based on altered patterns of T lymphocyte development. Long-term cultures of T cells from young donors show that certain manifestations of aging are acquired under such in vitro conditions. The T lymphocyte compartment thus offers a unique experimental model to investigate different checkpoints in development and function of the cells, as based on vulnerability to the effects of aging.
Globerson
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Department of Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D002453:Cell Cycle; D003599:Cytoskeleton; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D014783:Viscosity
D015703:Antigens, CD