Age-Related Dynamics of Lung-Resident Memory CD8 + T Cells in the Age of COVID-19

• Published in: Frontiers in immunology 2021-03, Vol.12, p.636118-636118
• Main Authors: Goplen, Nick P, Cheon, In Su, Sun, Jie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: age; Age Factors; Animals; Biomarkers; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; COVID-19 - immunology; COVID-19 - metabolism; COVID-19 - pathology; COVID-19 - virology; Disease Resistance - immunology; Homeostasis; Host-Pathogen Interactions - immunology; Humans; Immunologic Memory; Immunology; Immunophenotyping; influenza; Lung - immunology; Lung - metabolism; Lung - pathology; Lung - virology; Lymphocyte Count; pathology; Pulmonary Fibrosis - etiology; Pulmonary Fibrosis - metabolism; Pulmonary Fibrosis - pathology; resident memory; SARS-CoV-2 - immunology; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - metabolism; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - pathology; viral pneumonia
• ISSN: 1664-3224; 1664-3224
• DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.636118

Following respiratory viral infections or local immunizations, lung resident-memory T cells (T ) of the CD8 lineage provide protection against the same pathogen or related pathogens with cross-reactive T cell epitopes. Yet, it is now clear that, if homeostatic controls are lost following viral pneumonia, CD8 T cells can mediate pulmonary pathology. We recently showed that the aging process can result in loss of homeostatic controls on CD8 T cells in the respiratory tract. This may be germane to treatment modalities in both influenza and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, particularly, the portion that present with symptoms linked to long-lasting lung dysfunction. Here, we review the developmental cues and functionalities of CD8 T cells in viral pneumonia models with a particular focus on their capacity to mediate heterogeneous responses of immunity and pathology depending on immune status.