Death of memory T-cell subsets in humans: changes during aging

Abstract

Aging is characterized by a progressive decline in various T-cell functions that are associated with a deficiency of naive and central memory T-cell subsets and the accumulation of oligoclonal effector memory T-cell subsets. In this article, we briefly review different pathways of death signaling and alterations in apoptotic signaling pathways in order to understand changes in various T cells in human aging.

Keywords::

• aging
• apoptosis
• endoplasmic reticulum
• memory T-cell subsets
• mitochondria

Acknowledgements

Work cited in this review was partly supported by a grant from USPHS AG 18313.