The aged microenvironment contributes to the age-related functional defects of CD4 T cells in mice.

ABSTRACT: CD4 T cells, and especially T follicular helper cells, are critical for the generation of a robust humoral response to an infection or vaccination. Importantly, immunosenescence affects CD4 T-cell function, and the accumulation of intrinsic defects decreases the cognate helper functions of these cells. However, much less is known about the contribution of the aged microenvironment to this impaired CD4 T-cell response. In this study, we have employed a preclinical model to determine whether the aged environment contributes to the defects in CD4 T-cell functions with aging. Using an adoptive transfer model in mice, we demonstrate for the first time that the aged microenvironment negatively impacts at least three steps of the CD4 T-cell response to antigenic stimulation. First, the recruitmen

SUBMITTER: Lefebvre JS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3444657 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature