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Ageing and life-long maintenance of T-cell subsets in the face of latent persistent infections

2008; Nature Portfolio; Volume: 8; Issue: 7 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1038/nri2318

1474-1741

Janko Nikolich‐Žugich,

T-cell and B-cell Immunology

A decline in T-cell immunity is a major cause of morbidity and mortality from infectious diseases in the elderly. Janko Nikolich-Žugich weighs up the relative roles of and the interplay between homeostatic factors and persistent viruses in immune senescence. A diverse and well-balanced repertoire of T cells is thought to be crucial for the efficacious defence against infection with new or re-emerging pathogens throughout life. In the last third of the mammalian lifespan, the maintenance of a balanced T-cell repertoire becomes highly challenging because of the changes in T-cell production and consumption. In this Review, I question whether latent persistent pathogens might be key factors that drive this imbalance and whether they determine the extent of age-associated immune deficiency.