Redox regulation of age-associated defects in generation and maintenance of T cell self-tolerance and immunity to foreign antigens.

ABSTRACT: Thymic atrophy reduces naive T cell production and contributes to increased susceptibility to viral infection with age. Expression of tissue-restricted antigen (TRA) genes also declines with age and has been thought to increase autoimmune disease susceptibility. We find that diminished expression of a model TRA gene in aged thymic stromal cells correlates with impaired clonal deletion of cognate T cells recognizing an autoantigen involved in atherosclerosis. Clonal deletion in the polyclonal thymocyte population is also perturbed. Distinct age-associated defects in the generation of antigen-specific T cells include a conspicuous decline in generation of T cells recognizing an immunodominant influenza epitope. Increased catalase activity delays thymic atrophy, and here, we show that it miti

SUBMITTER: Hester AK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8898380 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature