Accumulation of SA-βGal-High Cells in Human Naive T Cell Compartments Reveals a Stress-Adapted, Senescent-Like State.

ABSTRACT: Aging is associated with a decline in immune function termed immunosenescence, characterized by accumulation of senescent-like immune cells and chronic inflammation, known as inflammaging. While senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-βGal) activity is a well-established senescence marker, its functional significance and the precise cellular subsets affected within the T cell compartment remain unclear. Here, we identify and characterize a previously unrecognized subset of naïve CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells displaying high SA-βGal activity that significantly increases with age. Despite exhibiting hallmark features of senescence such as DNA damage, nuclear envelope disruption, loss of heterochromatin, and pronounced dysregulation of autophagy and lysosomal pathways, these S

SUBMITTER: Alexandru AC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12259081 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature