Early T Cell Differentiation with Well-Maintained Function across the Adult Life Course in Sub-Saharan Africa.

ABSTRACT: Immune senescence is a significant contributor to health problems in the developed world and may be accelerated by chronic viral infections. To date, there have been few studies of immune function in healthy older people in sub-Saharan Africa. We assessed T cell and B cell phenotypes and immune responses to CMV, EBV, and influenza virus in Malawians aged 20-69 y. Notably, the proportion of naive (CCR7⁺CD45RA⁺) CD4 and CD8 T cells was only 14% of the lymphoid repertoire even in donors aged under 30 y but did not decrease further with age. A small increase in the late differentiated (CD27^-CD28^-) CD8 T cell subpopulation was observed in older donors but the CD4/CD8 T cell ratio remained stable in all age groups. Interestingly, the regulatory (CD25

SUBMITTER: Miles DJC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6778523 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature