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Functional T cells are capable of supernumerary cell division and longevity
Andrew G Soerens1, Marco Künzli1, Clare F Quarnstrom1
1Center for Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Nature
|January 18, 2023
Summary
T cells can divide far more than previously thought, expanding over 10^40-fold across 10 years without losing function. This challenges existing limits on cell division and offers insights into aging and cancer.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Aging Research
Background:
- Somatic cells have division limits, impacting lifespan and cancer.
- CD8+ T cells divide rapidly for immunity, forming long-lived memory cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if T cells have intrinsic chronological or cell-division limits.
- To determine the proliferative potential and longevity of T cells beyond organismal lifespan.
Main Methods:
- Iterative in vivo activation and transfer of mouse T cells across multiple hosts over 10 years.
- Monitoring T cell competence, proliferation control, and exhaustion markers after repeated stimulation.
Main Results:
- T cells remained competent after 51 immunizations over a decade, expanding >10^40-fold.
- Cells required rest but maintained proliferation control, antimicrobial function, and memory formation.
- Despite exhaustion marker expression, T cells did not senesce or lose function.
Conclusions:
- T cells possess extraordinary proliferative potential and longevity, exceeding organismal lifespan.
- This challenges established cell division limits and informs understanding of aging, cancer, and memory cell differentiation.
- Rest is crucial for sustained T cell function and expansion.
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