Abstract
B and T cells are key components of the adaptive immune system and coordinate multiple facets of immunity including responses to infection, vaccines, allergens, and the environment. In humans, B- and T-cell immunity has been determined using primarily peripheral blood specimens. Conversely, human tissues have scarcely been studied but they host multiple adaptive immune cells capable of mounting immune responses to pathogens and participate in tissue homeostasis. Mucosal tissues, such as the intestines and respiratory track, are constantly bombarded by foreign antigens and contain tissue-resident memory T (TRM) cells that exhibit superior protective capacity to pathogens. Also, tissue-resident memory B (BRM) cells have been identified in mice but whether humans have a similar population remains to be confirmed. Moreover, the immune system evolves throughout the lifespan of humans and undergoes multiple changes in its immunobiology. Recent studies have shown that age-related changes in tissues are not necessarily reflected in peripheral blood specimens, highlighting the importance of tissue localization and subset delineation as essential determinants of functional B and T cells at different life stages. This review describes our current knowledge of the main B- and T-cell subsets in peripheral blood and tissues across age groups.
Highlights
The principal components of the adaptive immune system include B and T lymphocytes, which are crucial for the establishment and maintenance of immune responses
Most studies of the human immune responses to infection/vaccination have used blood specimens; recent studies have started to explore the immune response in diverse tissues and have revealed a profound anatomic compartmentalization of Band T-cell subsets
In mucosal surfaces that are exposed to high concentrations of foreign antigens, play multiple roles including defense against invading microorganisms and homeostasis maintenance of the local environment
Summary
The principal components of the adaptive immune system include B and T lymphocytes, which are crucial for the establishment and maintenance of immune responses. The mouse model has been used extensively to elucidate the in vivo functional role and mechanisms of B and T cells in immunity and immunopathology. The human immune system has evolved multiple mechanisms to ensure the survival of the host from recurrent infections and is continuously adapting to the relatively long life of humans. The immune system functionality decreases in older adults (termed immunosenescence) It is, important to study the roles of B and T cells at different life stages. There is a greater number of effector memory T (TEM) cells in the small intestine than in peripheral blood These observations, among others, suggest unique roles for T cells in immunity at specific anatomic compartments which are distinct from the periphery and that most likely can be extended to other cells of the immune system. All these facets are necessary to consider when developing strategies to modulate B- and T-cell immunity via vaccines and/or immunotherapies
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