Many changes in the immune system company with aging. Such changes result in reduced protection against foreign pathogens, delayed clearance of infection, prolonged inflammations and general immunosuppression. Our research finds that specific elements in the T cell population selectively decreased with aging. These T cell clones are likely coming from an innate-like T cell subtype called Mucosal Associated Invariant T cell, or MAIT, which reacts quickly upon bacterial infection. We observed that these T cells rapidly increase after birth, peak around 27yr before constantly dropping till death. Immunosuppressive conditions, such as HIV infection or cancer, result in accelerated decrease, yet therapeutic intervention could partially restore. Patients who received bone-marrow stem cell transplant showed matched T cell levels with donor age. Finally, higher level of these age-associated T cells is predictive of generally better outcome during SARS-CoV2 infection, including lower risk of ICU admission and lower risk of developing severe complications. As these T cells are not SARS-CoV2 specific, it is likely that they will be generally protective against other viral infection as well.
Speaker: Dr. Bo Li
Ph. D in Bioinformatics. After becoming independent in 2017, Dr. Li’s lab in the Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, UT Southwestern, has been focusing on the investigation of how T cells interact with cancer during tumor progression and immunotherapies, such as checkpoint blockade or cancer vaccine. The lab deployed its novel computational algorithms and tools for the early detection of cancer and precision diagnosis of multiple immunologic disorders.
Venue: In-Person at DCCC & Online on Zoom (hybrid mode)
(Welcome to DCCC to join the seminar in person. If you choose online, Zoom Meeting ID and Passcode will be emailed to you after registration.)
▲Registration Link: https://forms.gle/y66Ztc51G7Y3ebRQA
Organizers: Dallas Chinese Community Center/Asian American Cancer Care Services
Sponsors: Light and Salt Association and Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT)
Contact: 972-292-8281/dccc.coordinator@gmail.com
