Are senescence and exhaustion intertwined or unrelated processes that compromise immunity?

作者：Akbar Arne N^*; Henson Sian M

来源：Nature Reviews Immunology, 2011, 11(4): 289-295.

DOI：10.1038/nri2959

Can the immune system be reactivated continuously throughout the lifetime of an organism or is there a finite point at which repeated antigenic challenge leads to the loss of lymphocyte function or the cells themselves or both? Replicative senescence and exhaustion are processes that control T cell proliferative activity and function; however, there is considerable confusion over the relationship between these two intrinsic cellular control mechanisms. In this Opinion article, we compare the molecular regulation of senescence and exhaustion in T cells. Available data suggest that both processes are regulated independently of each other and that it may be safer to block exhaustion than senescence to enhance immunity.

• 出版日期2011-4