title: T-cell biology in aging, with a focus on lung disease.
abstract: T cells are essential for defending hosts against microorganisms and malignancy as well as for regulating the development of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases like autoimmunity. Alterations in T-cell immunity occur with aging, affecting the function and proportions of T-cell subsets. Probably, the most noticeable age-associated change in T-cell immunity is an alteration in the frequency of naive and memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. In fact, the frequency of naive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells decreases with aging, whereas the frequency of memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells increases. Also, changes in T-cell proliferation, cytokine production, memory response, and cytotoxicity as well as in regulatory T-cell number and function have been reported with aging. Such alterations could contribute to the development of infections, malignancies, and inflammatory diseases that rise with aging. Of interest, T cells are closely involved in the development of inflammatory airway and lung diseases including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which are prevalent in the elderly people. In addition, T cells play a major role in defending host against influenza virus infection, a serious medical problem with high morbidity and mortality in the elderly people. Thus, it is conceivable that altered T-cell immunity may account in part for the development of such respiratory problems with aging. Here, we will review the recent advances in T-cell immunity and its alteration with aging and discuss the potential effects of such changes on the lung.
authors.affiliation: Section of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, S525C TAC, 300 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
authors.forename: Naeun
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Min Sun
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Insoo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000276:immunology; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines