Single‐Cell Profiling Reveals Distinct Immune Communication Networks in Centenarians and Elderly Controls
Aberrant cell-cell communication (CCC) is a recognized hallmark of aging, yet comprehensive analyses of immune CCC-particularly in the context of healthy aging-remain limited. Using single-cell transcriptomics of PBMCs from centenarians (CEN), their offspring (CO), and elderly controls, we found that immune CCC in controls was characterized by myeloid-derived, self-amplifying SASP signals associated with immunosenescence and effector immune cell (EIC) exhaustion. In contrast, healthy-aging individuals (CEN/CO) exhibited reinforced positive regulatory factor (PRF)-mediated ligand-receptor (LR) interactions, such as IL-15 and IL-18, consistent with enhanced EIC cytotoxicity and immune surveillance. These findings were further supported in an independent longevity cohort. Our results suggest distinct immune CCC reprogramming with age and identify a characteristic immune remodeling pattern in centenarians, providing a framework for understanding healthy aging and exceptional longevity.
Authors
- C X Sun
- Chen Dong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5175-1662)
- Zhifeng Gu
- Huiyuan Ye
- Liwei Qiu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5768-8684)
Institutions
- Nantong University (CN)
- Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University (CN)
- Hainan General Hospital (CN)
- Southern Medical University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Aging Cell
- Published
- 2026-04-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1111/acel.70486
- Primary Topic
- Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Science and Technology Project of Nantong City