Age-associated changes in the frequency of naïve, memory and effector CD8+ T cells.
We investigated age-associated changes in the frequency of CD8+ T cell subsets with different functions. Based on expression of CD45RA and CCR7, naïve (CD45RA+ CCR7+), central memory (CM, CD45RA- CCR7+), effector memory (EM, CD45RA- CCR7-) and effector (CD45RA+ CCR7-) CD8+ T cells were identified in peripheral blood from healthy young (n = 17) and elderly (n = 17) people using flow cytometry. The elderly had a decreased frequency of naïve and an increased frequency of EM and effector CD8+ T cells compared to the young. However, both groups had a similar frequency of CM cells. These findings suggest that age-associated changes in CD8+ T cell subsets occur, which could be a potential explanation for altered CD8+ T cell function in the elderly.
Hong
Myung Sun
MS
Section of Rheumatology, School of Medicine, Yale University, PO Box 208031, 300 Cedar Street, TAC Room 541C, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
Dan
Jin Myung
JM
Choi
Jin-Young
JY
Kang
Insoo
I
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D054400:Receptors, CCR7; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000378:metabolism; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism
C515370:CCR7 protein, human; D054400:Receptors, CCR7; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens