title: Vδ2+ and α/ß T cells show divergent trajectories during human aging.
abstract: Chronological aging and a variety of stressors are driving forces towards immunosenescence. While much attention was paid to the main T cell component, α/β T cells, few studies concentrate on the impact of age on γ/δ T cells' characteristics. The latter are important players of adaptive immunity but also have features associated with innate immunity. Vδ2+ are the main component of γ/δ while Vδ1+ T cells expand upon Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and with age. The Vδ2+ T cells are not influenced by persistent infections but do contribute to immunosurveillance against bacterial pathogens. Here, we focus on Vδ2+ T cells and report that their composition and functionality is not altered in older adults. We have performed a side-by-side comparison of α/β and Vδ2 cells by using two robust markers of T cell replicative history and cell differentiation (CD28 and CD27), and cytokine secretion (IFN-γ and TNF-α). Significant differences in Vδ2 versus α/β homeostasis, as well as phenotypic and functional changes emerged. However, the data strongly suggest a sustained functionality of the Vδ2 population with age, independently of the challenge. This suggests differential trajectories towards immunosenescence in α/β and Vδ2+ T cells, most likely explained by their intrinsic functions.
authors.affiliation: Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), Biopolis, Singapore.
authors.forename: Crystal Tze Ying
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine II, Centre for Medical Research, University Medical Center, Tübingen, Germany.|Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Kilian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wistuba-Hamprecht
authors.affiliation: Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), Biopolis, Singapore.|School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
authors.forename: Weili
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Gerontology Research Programme, Department of Psychological Medicine, National University Health System, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Ma Schwe Zin
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Nyunt
authors.affiliation: Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), Biopolis, Singapore.
authors.forename: Anusha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vasudev
authors.affiliation: Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), Biopolis, Singapore.
authors.forename: Bernett Teck Kwong
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine II, Centre for Medical Research, University Medical Center, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pawelec
authors.affiliation: Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), Biopolis, Singapore.
authors.forename: Kia Joo
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Puan
authors.affiliation: Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), Biopolis, Singapore.
authors.forename: Olaf
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rotzschke
authors.affiliation: Gerontology Research Programme, Department of Psychological Medicine, National University Health System, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Tze Pin
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), Biopolis, Singapore.|School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.|Department of Microbiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Anis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Larbi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000068884:Immunosenescence / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000276:immunology; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta
keywords: Gerotarget; aging; immunosenescence; phenotype; unconventional T cells