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Updated: Oct 15, 2025
Generation of Multivirus-specific T Cells to Prevent/treat Viral Infections after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant
Published on: May 27, 2011
Understanding T cell aging to improve anti-viral immunity
Huimin Zhang1, Cornelia M Weyand1, Jörg J Goronzy1
1Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, 269 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Medicine, Veterans Administration Healthcare System, 3801 Miranda Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA.
Abstract:
T cells are a critical component of the immune system and required for protection against viral and bacterial infections. However, the capacity of these cells to provide sufficient protection declines with age, leading to an increased susceptibility to and mortality from infection in older individuals. In many cases, it also contributes to poor vaccine-induced immunity. Understanding the basic biology behind T cell aging is key to unraveling these defects and, in turn, designing more effective vaccines and therapeutics for the older population. Here, we will discuss recent studies that have provided significant insight into the features of T cell aging, how these features may contribute to poor immune responses with advancing age and newer avenues of research that may further enhance anti-viral immunity in older individuals.
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