AUTHOR=Yang Xiaofeng , Wang Xin , Lei Lei , Sun Lina , Jiao Anjun , Zhu Kun , Xie Tao , Liu Haiyan , Zhang Xingzhe , Su Yanhong , Zhang Cangang , Shi Lin , Zhang Dan , Zheng Huiqiang , Zhang Jiahui , Liu Xiaobin , Wang Xin , Zhou Xiaobo , Sun Chenming , Zhang Baojun TITLE=Age-Related Gene Alteration in Naïve and Memory T cells Using Precise Age-Tracking Model JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology VOLUME=8 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cell-and-developmental-biology/articles/10.3389/fcell.2020.624380 DOI=10.3389/fcell.2020.624380 ISSN=2296-634X ABSTRACT=

In aged individuals, age-related changes in immune cells, especially T cell deficiency, are associated with an increased incidence of infection, tumor, and autoimmune disease, as well as an impaired response to vaccination. However, the features of gene expression levels in aged T cells are still unknown. Our previous study successfully tracked aged T cells generated from one wave of developing thymocytes of young age by a lineage-specific and inducible Cre-controlled reporter (TCRδCreERR26ZsGreen mouse strain). In this study, we utilized this model and genome-wide transcriptomic analysis to examine changes in gene expression in aged naïve and memory T cell populations during the aging process. We identified profound gene alterations in aged CD4 and CD8 T cells. Both aged CD4+ and CD8+ naïve T cells showed significantly decreased organelle function. Importantly, genes associated with lymphocyte activation and function demonstrated a significant increase in aged memory T cells, accompanied by upregulation of immunosuppressive markers and immune checkpoints, revealing an abnormal T cell function in aged cells. Furthermore, aging significantly affects T cell survival and death signaling. While aged CD4 memory T cells exhibited pro-apoptotic gene signatures, aged CD8 memory T cells expressed anti-apoptotic genes. Thus, the transcriptional analysis of gene expression and signaling pathways in aged T cell subsets shed light on our understanding of altered immune function with aging, which will have great potential for clinical interventions for older adults.