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Updated: Nov 6, 2025

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Asymmetric cell division shapes naive and virtual memory T-cell immunity during ageing

Mariana Borsa1,2, Niculò Barandun1, Fabienne Gräbnitz1

  • 1Institute of Microbiology, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland.

Nature Communications
|May 12, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Ageing impairs asymmetric cell division (ACD) in CD8+ T cells, reducing immune function. Transient mTOR inhibition rescues ACD, restoring T cell expansion and memory potential in aged mice.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • Immune response efficiency depends on cellular heterogeneity.
  • Asymmetric cell division (ACD) is a key mechanism generating heterogeneity in CD8+ T cells.
  • Ageing is known to negatively impact immune responses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of ageing on ACD in murine CD8+ T cells.
  • To explore the potential of modulating ACD to restore immune function in aged individuals.
  • To characterize the role of virtual memory cells (Tvm cells) in aged CD8+ T cell function.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of ACD rates in CD8+ T cells from young and aged mice.
  • Assessment of T cell expansion and memory potential following interventions.
  • Characterization of proliferation and metabolic profiles of different CD8+ T cell subsets.

Main Results:

  • Ageing impairs ACD in CD8+ T cells.
  • Transient mTOR inhibition rescues ACD in aged CD8+ T cells, restoring progeny expansion and memory potential.
  • Virtual memory (Tvm) cells in aged mice exhibit high ACD rates and retain memory potential, unlike naive CD8+ T cells.

Conclusions:

  • ACD modulation is crucial for maintaining CD8+ T cell function during ageing.
  • Targeting ACD presents a potential strategy to improve immune responses in the elderly.
  • Tvm cells represent a resilient subset of CD8+ T cells with preserved asymmetric division capacity.

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