T Cells seen from the metabolic and aging perspective

Abstract

Ageing is often associated with impaired immunity accompanied by a higher susceptibility to infections, cancers, autoimmune disorders, and inflammatory conditions such as metabolic syndrome. However, how the immune system ages, independently of chronological age, is still not fully understood. Immunological challenges through life may cause the immune system to change its composition and to adapt to changes of the other systems (CNS, endocrine, cardiovascular). The age-related changes at the T cell level are very striking. This chapter reviews how the functionality of the different populations is associated to different metabolic pathways. This chapter highlights the importance of understanding metabolic changes at the cellular level to better evaluate T cell senescence in humans.