Hallmarks of T cell aging

Ten molecular hallmarks characterize T cell aging, including thymic involution and mitochondrial dysfunction.

• T cell aging is associated with progressive dysfunction and increased autoimmunity.
• Chronic inflammation may accelerate organism-wide aging phenotypes linked to T cell alterations.
• Four primary hallmarks of T cell aging include thymic involution, mitochondrial dysfunction, genetic and epigenetic alterations, and loss of proteostasis.
• Secondary hallmarks encompass a reduction of the T cell receptor repertoire, naive-memory imbalance, T cell senescence, and lack of effector plasticity.
• These hallmarks together contribute to two integrative issues: immunodeficiency and inflammaging.
• Understanding the interplay between these hallmarks is essential for identifying potential molecular targets for interventions.

AI simplified