Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 22, 2026

Quantitative Imaging of Lineage-specific Toll-like Receptor-mediated Signaling in Monocytes and Dendritic Cells from Small Samples of Human Blood
Published on: April 16, 2012
Aged-related shifts in T cell homeostasis lead to intrinsic T cell defects
1Trudeau Institute, Saranac Lake, NY 12983, USA. lhaynes@trudeauinstitute.org
Abstract:
Our recent studies indicate that the longer peripheral persistence of naïve CD4 T cells that occurs with age is necessary for the development of the key aging defects that lead to compromised responses to vaccination and to new pathogens or new strains of circulating infectious agents. This longer persistence is in turn is linked to the decrease in development of new thymic emigrants and thymic involution that occur at adolescence. Therefore the process of development of naïve CD4 aging defects, is closely tied to the homeostasis of T cells and the shifts that occur in their homeostasis with age. Here we review this connection between age-related changes in T cell homeostasis and the development of T cell defects and discuss the implication for approaches to better vaccinating the elderly.
Related Concept Videos
T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...
The Effect of Aging on Tissues
Cell-mediated Immune Responses
T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response
Cellular Adaptation I: Introduction and Atrophy

