McTaggart Tegan, Lim Jing Xuan, Smith Katie J, Heaney Bronagh, McDonald David, Hulme Gillian, Hussain Rafiqul, Coxhead Jonathan, Mann Derek A, Sayer Avan A, Granic Antoneta, Amarnath Shoba
Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
NIHR, Biomedical Research Centre, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
Aging Cell. 2025 Jul;24(7):e70044. doi: 10.1111/acel.70044. Epub 2025 Mar 18.
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are important in maintaining tolerance and are key players in immunity. In aging, increased Treg function along with low-grade inflammation has been reported. This dichotomy of enhanced Treg function along with inflammation highlights the importance of understanding Treg biology and communication patterns in the very old. In this proof-of-concept study, we demonstrate that aged Tregs (85 years) do not significantly communicate with CD4 and CD8 T effectors when compared with healthy < 66-year-olds. Of note was the enhanced communication of aged Tregs with CD3CD8CD56CD161 NK-like T-cell populations, which are important in antitumor and chronic viral diseases in older individuals. We found that in turn this population of killer-like T cells showed diminished cytotoxic characteristics, and killer receptor expression. Taken together, our proof-of-concept study delineates the biology of Tregs and identifies previously undefined communication patterns in the very old.
调节性T细胞（Tregs）在维持免疫耐受中起重要作用，是免疫反应的关键参与者。据报道，在衰老过程中，Treg功能增强并伴有低度炎症。Treg功能增强与炎症并存这一现象凸显了了解高龄人群中Treg生物学特性和通讯模式的重要性。在这项概念验证研究中，我们证明，与健康的<66岁人群相比，高龄（85岁）Tregs与CD4和CD8效应T细胞之间的通讯并不显著。值得注意的是，高龄Tregs与CD3CD8CD56CD161自然杀伤样T细胞群体之间的通讯增强，这些细胞在老年人的抗肿瘤和慢性病毒疾病中起重要作用。我们发现，反过来，这群杀伤样T细胞的细胞毒性特征和杀伤受体表达减弱。综上所述，我们的概念验证研究阐述了Tregs的生物学特性，并确定了高龄人群中以前未明确的通讯模式。
