Conserved epigenetic hallmarks of T cell aging during immunity and malignancy.

ABSTRACT: Chronological aging correlates with epigenetic modifications at specific loci, calibrated to species lifespan. Such 'epigenetic clocks' appear conserved among mammals, but whether they are cell autonomous and restricted by maximal organismal lifespan remains unknown. We used a multilifetime murine model of repeat vaccination and memory T cell transplantation to test whether epigenetic aging tracks with cellular replication and if such clocks continue 'counting' beyond species lifespan. Here we found that memory T cell epigenetic clocks tick independently of host age and continue through four lifetimes. Instead of recording chronological time, T cells recorded proliferative experience through modification of cell cycle regulatory genes. Applying this epigenetic profile across a range of hum

SUBMITTER: Mi T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11333289 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature