title: Naive CD4 T cells from aged mice show enhanced death upon primary activation.
abstract: Poor T cell immunity is one of the many defects seen in elderly humans and aged (Ad) mice. We report that naive CD4 T cells from aged mice (ANCD4 cells) showed greater apoptosis upon primary activation than those from young (Yg) mice, with loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, poor activation of Rel family transcription factors and increased DNA damage. Their ability to enhance glycolysis, produce lactate and induce autophagy following activation was also compromised. ANCD4 cells remained susceptible to death beyond first cell division. Activated ANCD4 cells also showed poor transition to a 'central memory' (CM) CD44(high), CD62L(high) phenotype in vitro. This correlated with low proportions of CM cells in Ad mice in vivo. Functionally, too, IFN-gamma responses recalled from T cells of immunized Ad mice, poor to begin with, worsened with time as compared with Yg mice. Thus, ANCD4 cells handle activation-associated stress very poorly due to multiple defects, possibly contributing to poor formation of long-lasting memory.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mattoo
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Faulkner
authors.forename: Usha
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kandpal
authors.forename: Rituparna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Satyajit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rath
authors.forename: Jeannine M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Durdik
authors.forename: Vineeta
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bal
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018106:CD28 Antigens; D017252:CD3 Complex; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010047:Ovalbumin