Ageing and life-long maintenance of T-cell subsets in the face of latent persistent infections.
A diverse and well-balanced repertoire of T cells is thought to be crucial for the efficacious defence against infection with new or re-emerging pathogens throughout life. In the last third of the mammalian lifespan, the maintenance of a balanced T-cell repertoire becomes highly challenging because of the changes in T-cell production and consumption. In this Review, I question whether latent persistent pathogens might be key factors that drive this imbalance and whether they determine the extent of age-associated immune deficiency.
Nikolich-Zugich
Janko
J
Department of Immunobiology and the Arizona Center on Aging, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85724, USA. nikolich@e-mail.arizona.edu
D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D016922:Cellular Senescence; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology
D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell