Thymus involution sets the clock of the aging T-cell landscape: Implications for declined immunity and tissue repair

Yehezqel Elyahu, Alon Monsonego

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

Aging is generally characterized as a gradual increase in tissue damage, which is associated with senescence and chronic systemic inflammation and is evident in a variety of age-related diseases. The extent to which such tissue damage is a result of a gradual decline in immune regulation, which consequently compromises the capacity of the body to repair damages, has not been fully explored. Whereas CD4 T lymphocytes play a critical role in the orchestration of immunity, thymus involution initiates gradual changes in the CD4 T-cell landscape, which may significantly compromise tissue repair. In this review, we describe the lifespan accumulation of specific dysregulated CD4 T-cell subsets and their coevolution with systemic inflammation in the process of declined immunity and tissue repair capacity with age. Then, we discuss the process of thymus involution—which appears to be most pronounced around puberty—as a possible driver of the aging T-cell landscape. Finally, we identify individualized T cell-based early diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic strategies for age-related diseases.

Original languageAmerican English
Article number101231
JournalAgeing Research Reviews
Volume65
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2021

Keywords

  • Aging
  • Chronic systemic inflammation
  • Dysregulated CD4 T cells
  • Immune-mediated repair
  • Thymus

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Biotechnology
  • Biochemistry
  • Ageing
  • Molecular Biology
  • Neurology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Thymus involution sets the clock of the aging T-cell landscape: Implications for declined immunity and tissue repair'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this