Collaborating Investigator: Nan Ping Weng
Affiliation: Sr. Investigator NIA, NIH
Funding Status: Internal
Project Period: 01/01/22-05/2025

Summary

Age-associated changes in the adaptive immune system are complex and highly consequential for the health and wellbeing of older humans. However, the mechanisms underlying these age-related changes in lymphocytes are not fully understood. The Weng lab’s research interests are 1) to identify the key transcriptome and epigenetic changes that causes age-related reduced functions of CD8 T cells including both naïve and memory cells; 2) to determine the size of general and antigen-specific TCR repertoires and their changes with age and cell sort to isolate antigen specific CD8 T cells for their repertoire and individual TCR structure and function analyses using deep sequencing and x-ray crystal structures; and 3) to elucidate the role of telomere and telomerase in regulation of lymphocyte proliferation and function in human longitudinal follow-up samples. Overall, the Weng lab plans to elucidate the mechanisms underlying age-associated changes in T cells.

Approach

The overall goal of SP #4 is to test aAPC-based expansion of CD8+ CMV and other virus-specific T cells in the elderly population. The Weng lab is part of NIA and has various cohorts of elderly patients with different functional status. Dr. Weng is interested in seeing whether CMV and other virus-specific CTL can be expanded more effectively by aAPC platforms.  TR&D1 will provide NP-based and HMG-based aAPC for Dr. Weng’s studies.  These will consist of both HLA A2-based platforms as well as HLA Class II-based aAPC.