Targeting T Cell Dysfunction to Delay Tissue Aging
As we age, our immune system gets weaker, especially the T cells that normally defend against infections and cancer. Recent studies, however, suggest that T cells may also remove cells that become damaged as part of the normal aging process. This means that T cells may play a critical role in protecting health and fitness over lifespan, which was previously unappreciated. We have discovered that aged T cells express substantially lower levels of a key surface receptor that serves two key functions needed to clear damaged cells. Here, Dr. Nelson will evaluate how loss of this surface receptor disrupts T cell function with advanced age and then test the functional impact on clearing damaged cells. Understanding the precise molecular changes in aged T cells that accompany the loss of this receptor may uncover new ways to maintain tissue health and fitness in older adults.
