Age-related gene changes of naïve and memory T cells in a mouse age-tracking model

The transcriptomic changes of young and aged T cells are still unknown. Our previous study successfully tracked aged T cells generated from one wave of developing thymocytes of young age by a lineage-specific and inducible Cre-controlled reporter (TCRδCreERR26ZsGreen mouse strain). We used this transgenic mice and RNA-Seq to study the immunosenescence of naïve and memory T cell populations. A large number of genes involved in cellular and molecular functions, protein activity, cell cycle, cell adhesion, and immune functions were identified as having altered expression during aging. Our work revealed aged CD8 memory T cells with increased T cell activation and immunity genes, yet high expression of immunosuppressive checkpoints and resistance to cell death, implying aberrant T cell immunity in old mice. These feature genes identified in the current study serve as new therapeutic targets for correcting age-related defects. The differential features of gene expression levels in young and old T cells.