Yes, cytotoxicity is the ability to destroy cells. Most CD4 T cells are not cytotoxic, regardless of the host's age. In the Supercentenarians studied here, it was observed that the majority of their CD4 T cells were cytotoxic, which is a very surprising result.
Having more cytotoxic CD4 T's could give the immune system better ability to destroy invaders or cancer cells.
Even more surprising is that a large percentage of these mutant CD4 T's are clonal, all traceable back to one individual (T cell) that mutated.
It's been shown that supercentenarians enjoy resistance to disease over their entire lives. This research shows that may be due to their unique immune systems.
With full knowledge I am being an armchair statistician, wouldn't it be difficult to tell the difference between supercentenarians having extraordinary resistance to disease and supercentenarians being the ones who got lucky? Perhaps getting diseases is bad for your longevity!
These are not mutually exclusive possibilities: "a large percentage of these mutant CD4 T's are clonal, all traceable back to one individual (T cell) that mutated."
Wow, amazing! I don't know biology, so forgive my ignorant question:
Can these special t cells be transferred via a (blood?) transfusion? So they could clone themselves in a new person?
Having more cytotoxic CD4 T's could give the immune system better ability to destroy invaders or cancer cells.
Even more surprising is that a large percentage of these mutant CD4 T's are clonal, all traceable back to one individual (T cell) that mutated.
It's been shown that supercentenarians enjoy resistance to disease over their entire lives. This research shows that may be due to their unique immune systems.