T cells. Mitochondria. Peroxisomes. Metabolism. Ageing. Fate decision

Immune Cell Biology

Metabolic Organelle Dynamics in Immune Ageing

Our lab aims to understand how the inheritance and ageing of organelles, specifically mitochondria and peroxisomes, influence T cell diversity and stemness during ageing. As we age, T cell responses become less efficient due to a decline in naïve T cell numbers and the accumulation of terminally differentiated cells, which contribute to a phenomenon known as inflamm-ageing (low-grade chronic inflammation). A central hypothesis of our research is that the unequal inheritance of organelles with different chronological ages influences T cell fate decisions through the regulation of metabolic pathways—and that this fundamental cell biological process is disrupted during ageing. To investigate this, we will explore a potential reciprocal relationship between the accumulation of damaged or dysfunctional organelles in T cells and the ageing of the organism. Our ultimate goal is to rejuvenate aged T cells by modulating the inheritance of these organelles. Although the focus is on T cells, the implications of this research extend beyond immunology, as organelle ageing is likely a general feature of stem-like cells. Therefore, our findings could have broader applications in regenerative medicine, particularly for combating age-related immune and metabolic disorders.