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Updated: Apr 28, 2026

Generation of Orthotopic Pancreatic Tumors and Ex vivo Characterization of Tumor-Infiltrating T Cell Cytotoxicity
Published on: December 7, 2019
T cells and their cytokines in persistent stimulation of the immune system
Hassen Kared1, Xavier Camous1, Anis Larbi1
1Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Immunos Building, 8A Biomedical Grove, Biopolis, Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), 138648 Singapore, Singapore.
Abstract:
Age-dependent dysregulations of innate immunity impair effective priming of adaptive immunity. Alteration of helper functions of CD4 T cells during aging prevents them from sustaining cytotoxic responses of CD8 T cells against pathogens. The main characteristics of aged and/or differentiated T cells included telomere erosion, reduction of proliferation, decrease of IL-2 secretion and responsiveness, loss of CD28 and acquisition of cytotoxic properties. Phenotypic and functional modifications associated with aging affect development, differentiation, exhaustion/senescence status, migration, signalisation and metabolism of T lymphocytes. Magnitude and breadth of T cells responses are also regulated by the nature and extent of APCs activation. In our review, we focus on how the T cells age chronologically and within a persistent infection context. The T cell classification is not discussed in details here as it has been recently well documented [1(•)] however we focus on how cytokines may participate in immune senescence.
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