Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 2, 2026

Measuring Mitochondrial Function of Naïve and Effector CD8 T Cells
Published on: March 28, 2025
The clock is ticking: the impact of ageing on T cell metabolism
Kylie M Quinn1,2, Riya Palchaudhuri3,4,5, Clovis S Palmer3,4
1School of Health and Biomedical Sciences RMIT University Bundoora VIC Australia.
Abstract:
It is now clear that access to specific metabolic programmes controls the survival and function of various immune cell populations, including T cells. Efficient naïve and memory T cell homoeostasis requires the use of specific metabolic pathways and differentiation requires rapid and dramatic metabolic remodelling. While we are beginning to appreciate the crucial role of metabolic programming during normal T cell physiology, many of the potential impacts of ageing on metabolic homoeostasis and remodelling in T cells remain unexplored. This review will outline our current understanding of T cell metabolism and explore age-related metabolic changes that are postulated or have been demonstrated to impact T cell function.
Related Concept Videos
The Effect of Aging on Tissues
Aging
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Metabolism
Mitochondria
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Distribution
Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age

