Cited by 802T-cell and B-cell ImmunologyImmunotherapy and Immune ResponsesHematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

The Influence of Age on T Cell Generation and TCR Diversity

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Naylor, Keith, Li, Guangjin, Vallejo, Abbe N, Lee, Won-Woo, Koetz, Kerstin, Bryl, Ewa, Witkowski, Jacek, Fulbright, James +2 more·2005·The Journal of Immunology

Abstract

The ability to mount protective immune responses depends on the diversity of T cells. T cell diversity may be compromised by the declining thymic output of new T cells. The aging process imposes a threat to diversity, because thymic function deteriorates. In this study we have examined the relationship between thymic production, homeostatic T cell proliferation and TCR β-chain diversity in young (∼25 years), middle-aged (∼60 years), and elderly adults (∼75 years). TCR excision circles (TREC) as a marker of thymic output exponentially decreased by >95% between 25 and 60 years of age. The frequency of Ki67+ cycling CD4 T cells remained steady, and surprisingly, the diversity of the naive CD4 T cell repertoire was maintained at ∼2 × 107 different TCR β-chains. After the age of 70 years, TRECs only slightly declined, but homeostatic proliferation doubled. The diversity of the T cell pool drastically contracted to 200,000 TCR β-chains. Also, the phenotypic distinction between naive and memory CD4 T cells became fuzzy. The collapse in CD4 T cell diversity during the seventh and eighth decades indicates substantial T cell loss and implies that therapeutic measures to improve vaccine responses will have to include strategies for T cell replenishment.

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Crossref · 10.4049/jimmunol.174.11.7446

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  • Daily turnover of naive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells remains stable at about 0.04% throughout adulthood, with no apparent compensatory increase in homeostatic proliferation with age.

    “Daily turnover rates of naive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells are stable throughout adulthood at about 0.04%, with no apparent need for compensatory increase in homeostatic proliferation with age.”

    From Successful and Maladaptive T Cell Aging (2017) · cites this paper as Naylor et al., 2005

  • In later life, naive CD8+ T cells accelerate turnover.

    “Only in later life, naive CD8+ T cells accelerate their turnover”

    From Successful and Maladaptive T Cell Aging (2017) · cites this paper as Naylor et al., 2005

  • Early studies found clonal populations within naive cells after age 60.

    “Early studies described clonal populations within naive cells after the age of 60 years”

    From Successful and Maladaptive T Cell Aging (2017) · cites this paper as Naylor et al., 2005

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Research works printed but not linked: 5

  1. Albright, J. F., and J. W. Albright. 2003. Aging, Immunity, and Infection. Human Press, Totowa, p. 1.
  2. Neese, R. A., L. M. Misell, S. Turner, A. Chu, J. Kim, D. Cesar, R. Hoh, F. Antelo, A. Strawford, J. M. McCune, et al. 2002. Measurement in vivo of proliferation rates of slow turnover cells by 2H 2 O labeling of the deoxyribose moiety of DNA. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 99: 15345-15350.
  3. Wagner, U. G., K. Koetz, C. M. Weyand, and J. J. Goronzy. 1998. Perturbation of the T cell repertoire in rheumatoid arthritis. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95: 14447-14452.
  4. Koetz, K., E. Bryl, K. Spickschen, W. M. O'Fallon, J. J. Goronzy, and C. M. Weyand. 2000. T cell homeostasis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 97: 9203-9208.
  5. Kong, F. K., C. L. Chen, A. Six, R. D. Hockett, and M. D. Cooper. 1999. T cell receptor gene deletion circles identify recent thymic emigrants in the peripheral T cell pool. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 96: 1536 -1540.

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Authors
Naylor, K., Li, G., Vallejo, A. N., Lee, W.-W., Koetz, K., Bryl, E., Witkowski, J., Fulbright, J., Weyand, C. M., & Goronzy, J. J.
Affiliations
  • Mayo Clinic (US)
  • Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic and Graduate School , Rochester, MN 55905
Venue
The Journal of Immunology
Published
2005-06-01
Volume
174
Issue
11
Pages
7446-7452
ISSN
  • 0022-1767 (ISSN-L)
  • 1550-6606
OpenAlex
W1556334181
Cited by
802
References
2
Citations by year
2026: 27 · 2025: 29 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 37 · 2022: 38 · 2021: 46 · 2020: 53 · 2019: 46 · 2018: 39 · 2017: 51 · 2016: 35 · 2015: 42 · 2014: 43 · 2013: 45 · 2012: 54
FWCI
10.66
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • The Journal of Immunology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute on Aging (R01AG015043, AG 15043)
  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (AI 57266, U19AI057266)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › T-cell and B-cell Immunology
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immunotherapy and Immune Responses
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Hematology › Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Keywords
immunosenescence, T cell senescence, thymic output, TREC, homeostatic proliferation, naive CD4+ T cells, memory T cells, vaccine response in the elderly
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Cell Differentiation, Homeostasis, Humans, Immunologic Memory, Middle Aged, Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, Thymus Gland, Gene Rearrangement, beta-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor, CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes, T-Lymphocyte Subsets, Resting Phase, Cell Cycle, Cell Proliferation

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