Immune phenotype of the CD4+ T cells in the aged lymphoid organs and lacrimal glands

Trujillo-Vargas CM, Mauk KE, Hernandez H, de Souza RG, Yu Z, Galletti JG, Dietrich J, Paulsen F, de Paiva CS (2022)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2022

Journal

GeroScience American Aging Association

DOI: 10.1007/s11357-022-00529-z

Abstract

Aging is associated with a massive infiltration of T lymphocytes in the lacrimal gland. Here, we aimed to characterize the immune phenotype of aged CD4+ T cells in this tissue as compared with lymphoid organs. To perform this, we sorted regulatory T cells (Tregs, CD4+CD25+GITR+) and non-Tregs (CD4+CD25negGITRneg) in lymphoid organs from female C57BL/6J mice and subjected these cells to an immunology NanoString® panel. These results were confirmed by flow cytometry, live imaging, and tissue immunostaining in the lacrimal gland. Importantly, effector T helper 1 (Th1) genes were highly upregulated on aged Tregs, including the master regulator Tbx21. Among the non-Tregs, we also found a significant increase in the levels of EOMESmed/high, TbetnegIFN-γ+, and CD62L+CD44negCD4+ T cells with aging, which are associated with cell exhaustion, immunopathology, and the generation of tertiary lymphoid tissue. At the functional level, aged Tregs from lymphoid organs are less able to decrease proliferation and IFN-γ production of T responders at any age. More importantly, human lacrimal glands (age range 55–81 years) also showed the presence of CD4+Foxp3+ cells. Further studies are needed to propose potential molecular targets to avoid immune-mediated lacrimal gland dysfunction with aging.

Authors with CRIS profile

Jana Dietrich Lehrstuhl für Funktionelle und Klinische Anatomie Friedrich Paulsen Lehrstuhl für Funktionelle und Klinische Anatomie

Involved external institutions

Baylor College of Medicine US United States (USA) (US) Universidad de Antioquía (UDEA) CO Colombia (CO) Academia Nacional de Medicina de Buenos Aires AR Argentina (AR)

How to cite

APA:

Trujillo-Vargas, C.M., Mauk, K.E., Hernandez, H., de Souza, R.G., Yu, Z., Galletti, J.G.,... de Paiva, C.S. (2022). Immune phenotype of the CD4+ T cells in the aged lymphoid organs and lacrimal glands. GeroScience. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11357-022-00529-z

MLA:

Trujillo-Vargas, Claudia M., et al. "Immune phenotype of the CD4+ T cells in the aged lymphoid organs and lacrimal glands." GeroScience (2022).

BibTeX: Download