Full Text:   <624>

Summary:  <16>

Suppl. Mater.: 

CLC number: 

On-line Access: 2026-02-06

Received: 2025-05-06

Revision Accepted: 2025-08-13

Crosschecked: 2026-02-06

Cited: 0

Clicked: 1512

Citations:  Bibtex RefMan EndNote GB/T7714

 ORCID:

Huan LIU

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4487-9742

Abudureyimujiang AILI

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6893-5561

Chun CHANG

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1362-5950

-   Go to

Article info.
Open peer comments

Journal of Zhejiang University SCIENCE B 2026 Vol.27 No.2 P.149-163

http://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.B2500233


Type 2 inflammation accelerates CD4+ T-cell senescence in asthma


Author(s):  Huan LIU, Zemin LI, Yongchang SUN, Abudureyimujiang AILI, Chun CHANG

Affiliation(s):  Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100083, China; more

Corresponding email(s):   changc@bjmu.edu.cn, aa@bjmu.edu.cn

Key Words:  Asthma, Cellular senescence, T cells, Inflammation


Huan LIU, Zemin LI, Yongchang SUN, Abudureyimujiang AILI, Chun CHANG. Type 2 inflammation accelerates CD4+ T-cell senescence in asthma[J]. Journal of Zhejiang University Science B, 2026, 27(2): 149-163.

@article{title="Type 2 inflammation accelerates CD4+ T-cell senescence in asthma",
author="Huan LIU, Zemin LI, Yongchang SUN, Abudureyimujiang AILI, Chun CHANG",
journal="Journal of Zhejiang University Science B",
volume="27",
number="2",
pages="149-163",
year="2026",
publisher="Zhejiang University Press & Springer",
doi="10.1631/jzus.B2500233"
}

%0 Journal Article
%T Type 2 inflammation accelerates CD4+ T-cell senescence in asthma
%A Huan LIU
%A Zemin LI
%A Yongchang SUN
%A Abudureyimujiang AILI
%A Chun CHANG
%J Journal of Zhejiang University SCIENCE B
%V 27
%N 2
%P 149-163
%@ 1673-1581
%D 2026
%I Zhejiang University Press & Springer
%DOI 10.1631/jzus.B2500233

TY - JOUR
T1 - Type 2 inflammation accelerates CD4+ T-cell senescence in asthma
A1 - Huan LIU
A1 - Zemin LI
A1 - Yongchang SUN
A1 - Abudureyimujiang AILI
A1 - Chun CHANG
J0 - Journal of Zhejiang University Science B
VL - 27
IS - 2
SP - 149
EP - 163
%@ 1673-1581
Y1 - 2026
PB - Zhejiang University Press & Springer
ER -
DOI - 10.1631/jzus.B2500233


Abstract: 
asthma is a complex and chronic inflammatory airway disease associated with the abnormal activation of immune cells. T-cell senescence is linked to immune dysfunction and persistent inflammation, but the relationship between asthma and T-cell senescence remains unexplored. This study reveals significantly higher percentages of cluster of differentiation 4-positive (CD4+) senescent t cells (Tsens) in asthma patients than in healthy controls, while CD8+ Tsen percentages do not appear to increase. CD4+ Tsen percentages in both the blood and sputum are positively correlated with fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) values, eosinophil abundance, and T helper type 2 (Th2) cell abundance in the blood. The clinical manifestations of asthma were recreated in a house dust mite (HDM)-induced mouse model. In HDM-exposed mice, CD4+ Tsen percentages were also elevated in the lungs. To counteract T-cell senescence, therapeutic interventions, including interleukin-4 (IL-4) antibodies and dexamethasone, were administered to the mice. IL-4 neutralization reduced CD4+ Tsen percentages and inhibited p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation. Adoptive transfer of CD4+ Tsens did not induce spontaneous asthma in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)-treated mice but exacerbated type 2 inflammation in HDM-treated mice. Our study revealed a significant increase in CD4+ Tsen (CD57+CD28-) abundance in asthma patients and suggested that type 2 inflammation drives CD4+ T-cell senescence in asthma. Furthermore, adoptive transfer of CD4+ Tsens appears to exacerbate type 2 inflammation.

哮喘2型炎症加速CD4+ T细胞衰老

刘欢1,2,李泽民1,2,孙永昌1,2,阿布都热依木江·艾力3,常春1,2
1北京大学第三医院呼吸与危重症医学科,中国北京市,100083
2北京大学医学部慢性气道疾病研究中心,中国北京市,100083
3北京大学第三医院肿瘤与放射病科,中国北京市,100083
摘要:哮喘是一种复杂的慢性炎症性气道疾病,与免疫细胞异常激活密切相关。T细胞衰老通常伴随免疫功能障碍和持续炎症,但其在哮喘发病中的具体作用尚未明确。本研究发现,哮喘患者中CD4?衰老T细胞(Tsens)的比例显著高于健康对照,而CD8? Tsens未出现明显增加。血液和痰液中CD4? Tsens比例与呼出气一氧化氮(FeNO)、嗜酸性粒细胞数量以及Th2细胞水平呈正相关。在屋尘螨诱导的哮喘小鼠模型中,肺组织内CD4? Tsens比例同样升高。为干预T细胞衰老,本研究对小鼠进行了包括白细胞介素-4(IL-4)抗体和地塞米松在内的治疗干预,发现IL-4中和可降低哮喘小鼠肺组织CD4? Tsens比例,并抑制p38丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(MAPK)通路的激活。此外,过继输注衰老CD4? T细胞到健康小鼠并未引起自发性哮喘,但在屋尘螨诱导的哮喘小鼠中则加重了2型炎症反应。综上所述,本研究揭示了哮喘患者中CD4? Tsens细胞(CD57?CD28?)显著增加,并提示2型炎症可驱动CD4? T细胞衰老,而CD4? Tsens细胞的过继转移也会加剧哮喘炎症。

关键词:哮喘;细胞衰老;T细胞;炎症

Darkslateblue:Affiliate; Royal Blue:Author; Turquoise:Article

Reference

[1]AghaliA, KhalfaouiL, LagnadoAB, et al., 2022. Cellular senescence is increased in airway smooth muscle cells of elderly persons with asthma. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, 323(5):L558-L568.

[2]AkbarAN, HensonSM, LannaA, 2016. Senescence of T lymphocytes: implications for enhancing human immunity. Trends Immunol, 37(12):866-876.

[3]BadarA, SalemAM, BamosaAO, et al., 2020. Association between FeNO, total blood IgE, peripheral blood eosinophil and inflammatory cytokines in partly controlled asthma. J Asthma Allergy, 13:533-543.

[4]BauerME, 2020. Accelerated immunosenescence in rheumatoid arthritis: impact on clinical progression. Immun Ageing, 17:6.

[5]BussePJ, MathurSK, 2010. Age-related changes in immune function: effect on airway inflammation. J Allergy Clin Immunol, 126(4):690-699.

[6]BussePJ, ZhangTF, SrivastavaK, et al., 2007. Effect of ageing on pulmonary inflammation, airway hyperresponsiveness and T and B cell responses in antigen-sensitized and -challenged mice. Clin Exp Allergy, 37(9):1392-1403.

[7]BussePJ, BirminghamJM, CalatroniA, et al., 2017. Effect of aging on sputum inflammation and asthma control. J Allergy Clin Immunol, 139(6):1808-1818.e6.

[8]ChildsBG, DurikM, BakerDJ, et al., 2015. Cellular senescence in aging and age-related disease: from mechanisms to therapy. Nat Med, 21(12):1424-1435.

[9]ChildsBG, GluscevicM, BakerDJ, et al., 2017. Senescent cells: an emerging target for diseases of ageing. Nat Rev Drug Discov, 16(10):718-735.

[10]DevulderJV, 2024. Unveiling mechanisms of lung aging in COPD: a promising target for therapeutics development. Chin Med J Pulm Crit Care Med, 2(3):133-141.

[11]Escamilla-GilJM, Fernandez-NietoM, AcevedoN, 2022. Understanding the cellular sources of the fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and its role as a biomarker of type 2 inflammation in asthma. Biomed Res Int, 2022:5753524.

[12]GasekNS, KuchelGA, KirklandJL, et al., 2021. Strategies for targeting senescent cells in human disease. Nat Aging, 1(10):870-879.

[13]GBD Chronic Respiratory Disease Collaborators, 2020. Prevalence and attributable health burden of chronic respiratory diseases, 1990–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Lancet Respir Med, 8(6):585-596.

[14]GorgoulisV, AdamsPD, AlimontiA, et al., 2019. Cellular senescence: defining a path forward. Cell, 179(4):813-827.

[15]HammadH, LambrechtBN, 2021. The basic immunology of asthma. Cell, 184(9):2521-2522.

[16]HuangKW, YangT, XuJY, et al., 2019. Prevalence, risk factors, and management of asthma in China: a national cross-sectional study. Lancet, 394(10196):407-418.

[17]JudgeSJ, MurphyWJ, CanterRJ, 2020. Characterizing the dysfunctional NK cell: assessing the clinical relevance of exhaustion, anergy, and senescence. Front Cell Infect Microbiol, 10:49.

[18]KimHD, YuSJ, KimHS, et al., 2013. Interleukin-4 induces senescence in human renal carcinoma cell lines through STAT6 and p38 MAPK. J Biol Chem, 288(40):28743-28754.

[19]LambersC, HackerS, PoschM, et al., 2009. T cell senescence and contraction of T cell repertoire diversity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Clin Exp Immunol, 155(3):466-475.

[20]López-OtínC, BlascoMA, PartridgeL, et al., 2023. Hallmarks of aging: an expanding universe. Cell, 186(2):243-278.

[21]MadrugaMP, GrunLK, Dos SantosLSM, et al., 2024. Excess of body weight is associated with accelerated T-cell senescence in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Immun Ageing, 21:17.

[22]MendelsohnAR, LarrickJW, 2022. Antiaging vaccines targeting senescent cells. Rejuvenation Res, 25(1):39-45.

[23]MinSN, ZhuMQ, MaoXD, et al., 2022. Contribution of interleukin-4-induced epithelial cell senescence to glandular fibrosis in IgG4-related sialadenitis. Arthritis Rheumatol, 74(6):1070-1082.

[24]MittelbrunnM, KroemerG, 2021. Hallmarks of T cell aging. Nat Immunol, 22(6):687-698.

[25]ÖdlingM, AnderssonN, EkströmS, et al., 2018. Characterization of asthma in the adolescent population. Allergy, 73(8):1744-1746.

[26]PelletierG, GodboutK, BoulayMÈ, et al., 2022. Increase in FeNO levels following IL5/IL5R-targeting therapies in severe asthma: a case series. J Asthma Allergy, 15:691-701.

[27]SchaferMJ, WhiteTA, IijimaK, et al., 2017. Cellular senescence mediates fibrotic pulmonary disease. Nat Commun, 8:14532.

[28]ShirakawaK, YanXX, ShinmuraK, et al., 2016. Obesity accelerates T cell senescence in murine visceral adipose tissue. J Clin Invest, 126(12):4626-4639.

[29]SomaT, NagataM, 2022. Immunosenescence, inflammaging, and lung senescence in asthma in the elderly. Biomolecules, 12(10):1456.

[30]SturmlechnerI, ZhangC, SineCC, et al., 2021. p21 produces a bioactive secretome that places stressed cells under immunosurveillance. Science, 374(6567):eabb3420.

[31]WanRJ, SrikaramP, GuntupalliV, et al., 2023. Cellular senescence in asthma: from pathogenesis to therapeutic challenges. eBioMedicine, 94:104717.

[32]WangK, StonhamC, RutherfordC, et al., 2023. Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO): the future of asthma care? Br J Gen Pract, 73(737):565-568.

[33]WangTW, JohmuraY, SuzukiN, et al., 2022. Blocking PD-L1–PD-1 improves senescence surveillance and ageing phenotypes. Nature, 611(7935):358-364.

[34]WangZN, SuRN, YangBY, et al., 2020. Potential role of cellular senescence in asthma. Front Cell Dev Biol, 8:59.

[35]WeyandCM, YangZ, GoronzyJJ, 2014. T-cell aging in rheumatoid arthritis. Curr Opin Rheumatol, 26(1):93-100.

[36]WoodWA, KrishnamurthyJ, MitinN, et al., 2016. Chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation increase p16INK4a expression, a biomarker of T-cell aging. eBioMedicine, 11:227-238.

[37]YangJ, LiuHC, ZhangJQ, et al., 2023. The effect of metformin on senescence of T lymphocytes. Immun Ageing, 20:73.

[38]YoshidaS, NakagamiH, HayashiH, et al., 2020. The CD153 vaccine is a senotherapeutic option for preventing the accumulation of senescent T cells in mice. Nat Commun, 11:2482.

[39]YudaE, AndoT, IshidaY, et al., 2025. Investigation of individual variability and temporal fluctuations in exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) levels in healthy individuals. Adv Respir Med, 93(4):26.

[40]ZhangJ, ChangC, LiangZY, et al., 2025. Elevated CD4+ T cell senescence associates with impaired immune responsiveness in severe COVID-19. Aging Dis, 16(1):498-511.

[41]ZhangPZ, CattersonJH, GrönkeS, et al., 2024. Inhibition of S6K lowers age-related inflammation and increases lifespan through the endolysosomal system. Nat Aging, 4(4):491-509.

Open peer comments: Debate/Discuss/Question/Opinion

<1>

Please provide your name, email address and a comment





Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE, 38 Zheda Road, Hangzhou 310027, China
Tel: +86-571-87952783; E-mail: cjzhang@zju.edu.cn
Copyright © 2000 - 2026 Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE