Aging is associated with accumulated T follicular helper cells with decreased metabolic function

Abstract The aging immune system responds poorly to infection and vaccination, producing reduced numbers of germinal centers, low affinity antibody titers, B cell memory. Prolonged contacts between activated cells CD4+ T are crucial center formation follicular helper (Tfh) differentiation, but it is unclear how impacts the quality this interaction. Peptide immunization confirmed that aged mice have less expansion antigen-specific titers. Furthermore, was associated with decreased conventional accumulated Tfh regulatory cells, even in naïve mice. Despite increased numbers, our results indicate metabolic function, which may repercussions on responses. To determine contribution cell-extrinsic influences induction, we adoptively transferred young, into hosts prior peptide immunization, resulted titers when compared young hosts. from these experiments emphasize importance lymphoid microenvironment initiation maintenance. We hypothesize age-associated accumulation impair induction subsequent Current studies use live-cell 2-photon microscopy track impact age lymphocyte motility Tfh:B interactions, order relative contributions APCs, non-specific Tfh, deficiency. Research supported by Mayo Clinic Robert Arlene Kogod Center Aging Innovation Award UL1R002377