NF-κB controls Il2 and Csf2 expression during T cell development and activation process.

Aging and dysregulation of immune responds are closely associated through a complicated but unclear mechanism. Although many theories have been proposed as overall dysregulation involved in aging, mechanisms such as efficiency of DNA repairing, over-expression of transcription factors (such as NF-κB family), and shift of cell types, are among many factors that contribute to and affect aging process. It is of great interests to understand the possible mechanism that is involved in aging immune system. Here, we report that the inducible genes Il2 and Csf2 are increased as T cells undergo activation and aging. Of particular note were the findings that the relative composition of the circulating CD4(+) T cell population changes as animals mature with an increased percentage of the population being memory/effector type cells. In addition, mRNA levels of NF-κB family genes that are essential elements for cytokine activation in adult mice and activated T cells are significantly increased. We have demonstrated that the expression of inducible genes is accompanied by increased memory/effector type cells and by increased expression level of NF-κB family genes during cell activation and development.