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Figure 2 | Arthritis Res Ther

Figure 2

From: Ageing, autoimmunity and arthritis: T-cell senescence and contraction of T-cell repertoire diversity – catalysts of autoimmunity and chronic inflammation

Figure 2

Replicative senescence and shifts in gene expression. Cumulative replication of T cells is associated with telomeric erosion and loss of CD28 and CD40L expression, consistent with cellular senescence. Presenescent CD4+ T cells gain effector functions such as high production of cytokines and cytotoxic ability through a perforin/granzyme mechanism. These cells are under the regulatory control of MHC class I-recognizing receptors, such as killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs), that can provide costimulatory signals or, if coexpressed with the appropriate adapter molecule DAP12, form an independent, fully competent recognition unit.

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Arthritis Research & Therapy

ISSN: 1478-6362

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