Trends Immunol. 2025 May 16:S1471-4906(25)00119-X. doi: 10.1016/j.it.2025.04.006. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Although DNA damage is a common cellular event, T cells experience significant genotoxic stresses because of rapid antigen-stimulated expansion and their presence in various nonlymphoid microenvironments. In addition to the well-established link between genomic instability and malignancy, recent genomic studies have uncovered a substantial mutational burden in nonmalignant T cells in both normal aging and disease contexts. Furthermore, genomic damage in T cells is accelerated in autoimmune diseases and in older individuals because of both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. This review highlights the different genotoxic stressors affecting T cells and the detrimental effects of persistent DNA damage and identifies the most critical knowledge gaps.
PMID:40382245 | DOI:10.1016/j.it.2025.04.006