Abstract
The immune system undergoes a process of profound remodelling during aging, referred to as immunosenescence, and characterized by complex modifications of several components. In this review, we discuss recent developments and observations regarding the generation of T cells in the thymus during aging and longevity, and the regulation and maintenance of peripheral blood lymphocytes. The generation of new T cells is indeed crucial to maintain a functional immune system, and is a fundamental step to avoid unsuccessful aging, thus reaching longevity in good health. Mechanisms will be described that are related to the production and maintenance of those lymphocytes defined "recent thymic emigrants", and to the detection of the so called "T cell receptor rearrangement excision circles (TREC)", along with the presence in the periphery of naïve and memory T cells, that can be influenced and regulated by several different mechanisms. Several strategies aimed at improving thymic functionality are currently receiving a growing interest, and some of them are based on molecules that are produced by, and/or act on immune cells. Data on the possible use of these molecules, including cytokines like interleukin (IL)-7, IL-15 and keratinocyte growth factor, to restore thymic function are reviewed and discussed.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 597-603 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Current Pharmaceutical Design |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2010 |
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Keywords
- Aging
- IL-7
- Longevity
- sjTREC
- T cell
- Thymus
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Drug Discovery
- Pharmacology
- Medicine(all)
Cite this
T cell homeostasis in centenarians : From the thymus to the periphery. / Pinti, M.; Nasi, M.; Lugli, E.; Gibellini, L.; Bertoncelli, L.; Roat, E.; De Biasi, S.; Mussini, C.; Cossarizza, A.
In: Current Pharmaceutical Design, Vol. 16, No. 6, 2010, p. 597-603.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - T cell homeostasis in centenarians
T2 - From the thymus to the periphery
AU - Pinti, M.
AU - Nasi, M.
AU - Lugli, E.
AU - Gibellini, L.
AU - Bertoncelli, L.
AU - Roat, E.
AU - De Biasi, S.
AU - Mussini, C.
AU - Cossarizza, A.
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - The immune system undergoes a process of profound remodelling during aging, referred to as immunosenescence, and characterized by complex modifications of several components. In this review, we discuss recent developments and observations regarding the generation of T cells in the thymus during aging and longevity, and the regulation and maintenance of peripheral blood lymphocytes. The generation of new T cells is indeed crucial to maintain a functional immune system, and is a fundamental step to avoid unsuccessful aging, thus reaching longevity in good health. Mechanisms will be described that are related to the production and maintenance of those lymphocytes defined "recent thymic emigrants", and to the detection of the so called "T cell receptor rearrangement excision circles (TREC)", along with the presence in the periphery of naïve and memory T cells, that can be influenced and regulated by several different mechanisms. Several strategies aimed at improving thymic functionality are currently receiving a growing interest, and some of them are based on molecules that are produced by, and/or act on immune cells. Data on the possible use of these molecules, including cytokines like interleukin (IL)-7, IL-15 and keratinocyte growth factor, to restore thymic function are reviewed and discussed.
AB - The immune system undergoes a process of profound remodelling during aging, referred to as immunosenescence, and characterized by complex modifications of several components. In this review, we discuss recent developments and observations regarding the generation of T cells in the thymus during aging and longevity, and the regulation and maintenance of peripheral blood lymphocytes. The generation of new T cells is indeed crucial to maintain a functional immune system, and is a fundamental step to avoid unsuccessful aging, thus reaching longevity in good health. Mechanisms will be described that are related to the production and maintenance of those lymphocytes defined "recent thymic emigrants", and to the detection of the so called "T cell receptor rearrangement excision circles (TREC)", along with the presence in the periphery of naïve and memory T cells, that can be influenced and regulated by several different mechanisms. Several strategies aimed at improving thymic functionality are currently receiving a growing interest, and some of them are based on molecules that are produced by, and/or act on immune cells. Data on the possible use of these molecules, including cytokines like interleukin (IL)-7, IL-15 and keratinocyte growth factor, to restore thymic function are reviewed and discussed.
KW - Aging
KW - IL-7
KW - Longevity
KW - sjTREC
KW - T cell
KW - Thymus
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77950263374&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=77950263374&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.2174/138161210790883705
DO - 10.2174/138161210790883705
M3 - Article
C2 - 20388069
AN - SCOPUS:77950263374
VL - 16
SP - 597
EP - 603
JO - Current Pharmaceutical Design
JF - Current Pharmaceutical Design
SN - 1381-6128
IS - 6
ER -