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.

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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

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article

Single‐Cell Profiling Reveals Distinct Immune Communication Networks in Centenarians and Elderly Controls

C X Sun, Chen Dong, Zhifeng Gu, Huiyuan Ye et al.
Aging Cell
Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics
article

Single‐Cell Profiling Reveals Distinct Immune Communication Networks in Centenarians and Elderly Controls

C X Sun, Chen Dong, Zhifeng Gu, Huiyuan Ye, Liwei Qiu
article en

Abstract

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.

Aging CellVol. 25(4)
Nantong University (CN), Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University (CN), Hainan General Hospital (CN), Southern Medical University (CN)
National Natural Science Foundation of China, Science and Technology Project of Nantong City
Openalex Percentile: Top 17%
Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics
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Single‐Cell Profiling Reveals Distinct Immune Communication Networks in Centenarians and Elderly Controls — C X Sun, Chen Dong, et al. · Aging Cell (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS