Enrichment of Candida associated with dysbiosis contributes to mucosal CD4+FOXP3+ regulatory T cell accrual and their dysfunction in aging

TL;DR

This study shows that increased Candida in the mouths of older people is linked to immune cell changes, including regulatory T cell dysfunction, which may contribute to aging-related immune decline.

Contribution

The study reveals a novel link between fungal dysbiosis, particularly Candida, and age-related T cell dysfunction in mucosal tissues.

Findings

Older individuals show increased Candida colonization in oral mucosa compared to younger individuals.

Candida abundance correlates with elevated levels of dysfunctional regulatory T cells and hyperactivated CD4+ T cells.

In vitro experiments show Candida induces Treg proliferation and dysfunction in an IL-6 dependent manner.

Abstract

Age-associated T cell dysfunction is a defining feature of inflammaging and immunosenescence, the progressive decline in immune competence observed with advancing age. Here we identified the association between aging (defined as age >60) and fungal dysbiosis, notably characterized by increased colonization of Candida species in the oral mucosa. There is also a notable enrichment of other taxa related to the order Saccharomycetales in older individuals. In contrast, younger individuals exhibit a greater abundance of Cryptococcus, Yarrowia, Kluyveromyces, and various Incertae sedis lineages. Further analysis, stratified by HIV status, shows that older individuals in both healthy and HIV+ groups display significantly higher levels of Candida. Gingival tissues reveal that both healthy older group and HIV-positive group exhibit elevated levels of CD4+FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) along with increased salivary concentrations of soluble TLR-2 and IL-6 compared to younger healthy group. Importantly, the abundance of Candida is positively correlated with elevated levels of mucosal Tregs, dysfunctional Tregs (TregDys), and hyperactivated CD4+ T cells. In vitro experiments provided mechanistic insights by further demonstrating that Candida can induce both proliferation and dysfunction of Tregs in an IL-6 dependent manner, supporting the notion that Candida plays a role in oral T cell senescence and inflammaging. Collectively, these findings underscore a direct relationship between the commensal mycobiome and Treg population, which normally promotes mucosal homeostasis but becomes susceptible to dysfunction with aging.

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