Metabolic characteristics of CD8<sup>+</sup> T cell subsets in young and aged individuals are not predictive of functionality.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 32504069.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-020-16633-7 and PMC identifier 7275080.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
Virtual memory T (T<sub>VM</sub>) cells are antigen-naïve CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells that exist in a semi-differentiated state and exhibit marked proliferative dysfunction in advanced age. High spare respiratory capacity (SRC) has been proposed as a defining metabolic characteristic of antigen-experienced memory T (T<sub>MEM</sub>) cells, facilitating rapid functionality and survival. Given the semi-differentiated state of T<sub>VM</sub> cells and their altered functionality with age, here we investigate T<sub>VM</sub> cell metabolism and its association with longevity and functionality. Elevated SRC is a feature of T<sub>VM</sub>, but not T<sub>MEM</sub>, cells and it increases with age in both subsets. The elevated SRC observed in aged mouse T<sub>VM</sub> cells and human CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells from older individuals is associated with a heightened sensitivity to IL-15. We conclude that elevated SRC is a feature of T<sub>VM</sub>, but not T<sub>MEM</sub>, cells, is driven by physiological levels of IL-15, and is not indicative of enhanced functionality in CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells.
Medical subject headings
- Aging
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes
- Immunologic Memory
- T-Lymphocyte Subsets