Bridging the Gap: The Emerging Role of memory CD8+ T Cells in Fibrotic Interstitial Lung Disease - PubMed
5 hours ago
- #T cells
- #fibrosis
- #immunosenescence
- Fibrotic interstitial lung disease (fILD) disproportionately affects older adults, with immunosenescence's role poorly understood.
- CD8+ T cells accumulate in fibrotic areas, driving disease through inflammation, impaired epithelial repair, and senescence.
- CD8+ T cell exhaustion is a hallmark of chronic lung disease, but its link to immunosenescence in ILD is unclear.
- CD8+ T cells in fILD show heterogeneity, including effector- and senescent-like subsets, with PD-1 acting as a protective brake.
- Functional profiling reveals CD8+ T cells resemble ex-tissue-resident and effector memory subsets, balancing immunity and fibrotic restraint.
- PD-1hi CD8+ T cells drive maladaptive epithelial remodeling via dysplastic basal-like cells and impaired alveolar regeneration.
- Antifibrotic drugs like pirfenidone and nintedanib may modulate profibrotic programs in immune cells, influencing fibrosis.
- fILD reflects dysregulated local immune networks, not just aging, offering opportunities for early detection and targeted interventions.
- Maladaptive memory CD8+ T cell states could serve as biomarkers for disease susceptibility and patient stratification.