Study reveals how chronic inflammation drives age-associated CD8+ T cell remodeling

Summary

This study by Shchukina et al. investigates how aging and chronic low-grade inflammation remodel the CD8+ T cell compartment. The researchers demonstrate that age-associated GZMK+CD8+ T cells (TAA cells) develop through a cell-extrinsic pathway requiring antigen exposure within aged non-lymphoid tissues. Using a TNFΔ69AU/+ mouse model, they show that low-grade inflammation accelerates CD8+ T cell aging and promotes early accumulation of TAA cells. The study further reveals that TAA cells are sustained by a progenitor population enriched in adipose tissue.