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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2021 Jul 23.
Published in final edited form as: Adv Geriatr Med Res. 2021 Jun 26;3(3):e210015. doi: 10.20900/agmr20210015

Figure 1. Model of Naïve T cell Quiescence with Aging.

Figure 1.

During aging, naïve T cells (Naïve) become partially differentiated (Naïve*), acquiring some features of memory T cells while retaining a phenotypically naïve state. In this memory-like naïve state, aging T cells demonstrate reduced pluripotency with altered subset differentiation post-activation. These features are similar to that observed in stem cells, where the level of quiescence (deep G0 (G0) → shallow G0 (G0*)) dictates their proliferative and differentiation potentials. Thus, a model arises in which naïve T cells in young adults are maintained in a deep quiescent state whereas naïve T cells in older individuals receive altered signaling from the aging lymph node microenvironment that drives the cells towards a shallower state of quiescence. Image created with BioRender.com.