Better safe than sorry: Naive T-cell dynamics in healthy ageing

Rob J de Boer, Kiki Tesselaar, José A M Borghans*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

It is well-known that the functioning of the immune system gradually deteriorates with age, and we are increasingly confronted with its consequences as the life expectancy of the human population increases. Changes in the T-cell pool are among the most prominent features of the changing immune system during healthy ageing, and changes in the naive T-cell pool in particular are generally held responsible for its gradual deterioration. These changes in the naive T-cell pool are thought to be due to involution of the thymus. It is commonly believed that the gradual loss of thymic output induces compensatory mechanisms to maintain the number of naive T cells at a relatively constant level, and induces a loss of diversity in the T-cell repertoire. Here we review the studies that support or challenge this widely-held view of immune ageing and discuss the implications for vaccination strategies.

Original languageEnglish
Article number101839
JournalSeminars in Immunology
Volume70
Early online date14 Sept 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2023

Keywords

  • Healthy ageing
  • Homeostasis
  • Naive T cells
  • TCR repertoire
  • Thymic involution
  • Thymus

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