Investigating a CD8+ T cell age‐associated gene signature in Alzheimer's disease

Neuroinflammation has been linked with the pathologic progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Previous studies focused primarily on the innate immune system; however, there are few human studies evaluating the potential relationships between adaptive immune cells and the development of AD pathology. Alterations in the immune system occur with aging, likely contributing to increased infection, malignancy and inflammation in older adults. One of the most prominent immune changes with age includes the expansion of memory CD8+ T cells in peripheral blood. Notably, cytotoxic IL‐7 receptor alpha low (IL‐7Rα or CD127low) CD45RA+ effector memory (EM) CD8+ T cells (TEMRA) have been associated with dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to AD. In addition, our lab recently discovered an age‐associated gene expression signature of IL‐7Rα low EM CD8+ T cells. Thus, we hypothesized that individuals with AD have altered levels of IL‐7Rα low EM CD8+ T cell aging gene expression.