title: Shaping of NK cell subsets by aging.
abstract: NK cells are key players in the innate immune response against virus infection and tumors. Here we describe the current knowledge on age-associated changes in NK cells and the role of persistent CMV infection in configuring NK cell compartment in the elderly. Aging but not CMV causes a redistribution of NK cell subsets as shown by a decrease of CD56bright cells and an increase of CD56-CD16+ NK cells. On the contrary the changes in CD56dimCD16+ NK cells are compatible with the accumulation of CD57+ long-lived NK cells that can also be observed in young CMV-seropositive individuals. NK cell function and dynamics in the elderly will be related not only with age but also with exposure to pathogens, especially CMV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, IMIBIC - Reina Sofia University Hospital - University of Cordoba, REIPI, Cordoba, Spain. Electronic address: rsolana@uco.es.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Solana
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, IMIBIC - Reina Sofia University Hospital - University of Cordoba, REIPI, Cordoba, Spain.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, IMIBIC - Reina Sofia University Hospital - University of Cordoba, REIPI, Cordoba, Spain.
authors.forename: Alejandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pera
authors.affiliation: Immunology Unit, University of Extremadura, Caceres, Spain.
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tarazona
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000276:immunology; D048430:Cell Shape; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D019002:CD56 Antigen; D017452:Receptors, IgG