Effects of aging on human leukocytes (part II): immunophenotyping of adaptive immune B and T cell subsets

Ulrik Stervbo, Cecilia Bozzetti, Udo Baron, Karsten Jürchott, Sarah Meier, Julia Nora Mälzer, Mikalai Nienen, Sven Olek, Dominika Rachwalik, Axel Ronald Schulz, Avidan Neumann, Nina Babel, Andreas Grützkau, Andreas Thiel

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

Immunosenescence results from a continuous deterioration of immune responses resulting in a decreased response to vaccines. A well-described age-related alteration of the immune system is the decrease of de novo generation of T and B cells. In addition, the accumulation of memory cells and loss of diversity in antigen specificities resulting from a lifetime of exposure to pathogens has also been described. However, the effect of aging on subsets of γδTCR+ T cells and Tregs has been poorly described, and the efficacy of the recall response to common persistent infections in the elderly remains obscure. Here, we investigated alterations in the subpopulations of the B and T cells among 24 healthy young (aged 19–30) and 26 healthy elderly (aged 53–67) individuals. The analysis was performed by flow cytometry using freshly collected peripheral blood. γδTCR+ T cells were overall decreased, while CD4+CD8 cells among γδTCR+ T cells were increased in the elderly. Helios+Foxp3+ and HeliosFoxp3+ Treg cells were unaffected with age. Recent thymic emigrants, based on CD31 expression, were decreased among the Helios+Foxp3+, but not the HeliosFoxp3+ cell populations. We observed a decrease in Adenovirus-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and an increase in CMV-specific CD4+ T cells in the elderly. Similarly, INFγ+TNFα+ double-positive cells were decreased among activated T cells after Adenovirus stimulation but increased after CMV stimulation. The data presented here indicate that γδTCR+ T cells might stabilize B cells, and functional senescence might dominate at higher ages than those studied here.

Original languageEnglish
Article number93
JournalAge
Volume37
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 4 Oct 2015
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2015, American Aging Association.

Funding

FundersFunder number
Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung

    Keywords

    • Adaptive immune system
    • Aging
    • Flow cytometry
    • Immune cell subsets
    • Tregs
    • γδTCR T cells

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