Apoptotic capability in ageing T cells.
The ageing immune system shows a gradual decline in responsiveness to antigens and tumours due to the emergence of immunosenescence. The main functions of T cells are activation, anergy and apoptosis and these are all affected during ageing. Apoptosis is vital in controlling cell numbers, deleting self-reactive T cells and maintaining immune surveillance. One of the principle instigators of death involves the CD95:CD95-ligand interaction and as T cells age both receptor and ligand levels increase. This view will describe the current knowledge of the apoptotic susceptibility of ageing T cells and evaluate the factors that may affect the apoptotic capability of immunosenescent T cells.
McLeod
J D
JD
Centre for Research in Biomedicine, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of the West of England, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK. julie.mcleod@uwe.ac.uk
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*