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Epigenetics of T cell aging
Author(s) -
Goronzy Jörg J.,
Hu Bin,
Kim Chulwoo,
Jadhav Rohit R.,
Weyand Cornelia M.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of leukocyte biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.819
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1938-3673
pISSN - 0741-5400
DOI - 10.1002/jlb.1ri0418-160r
Subject(s) - biology , epigenetics , epigenome , chromatin , histone , dna methylation , microbiology and biotechnology , senescence , epigenetic regulation of neurogenesis , cellular differentiation , context (archaeology) , chromatin remodeling , genetics , dna , gene expression , gene , paleontology
T cells are a heterogeneous population of cells that differ in their differentiation stages. Functional states are reflected in the epigenome that confers stability in cellular identity and is therefore important for naïve as well as memory T cell function. In many cellular systems, changes in chromatin structure due to alterations in histone expression, histone modifications and DNA methylation are characteristic of the aging process and cause or at least contribute to cellular dysfunction in senescence. Here, we review the epigenetic changes in T cells that occur with age and discuss them in the context of canonical epigenetic marks in aging model systems as well as recent findings of chromatin accessibility changes in T cell differentiation. Remarkably, transcription factor networks driving T cell differentiation account for many of the age‐associated modifications in chromatin structures suggesting that loss of quiescence and activation of differentiation pathways are major components of T cell aging.