Multidimensional profiling of human T cells reveals high CD38 expression, marking recent thymic emigrants and age-related naive T cell remodeling

Abstract

Thymic involution is a key factor in human immune aging, leading to reduced thymic output and a decline in recent thymic emigrant (RTE) naive T cells in circulation. Currently, the precise definition of human RTEs and their corresponding cell surface markers lacks clarity. Analysis of single-cell RNA-seq/ATAC-seq data distinguished RTEs by the expression of SOX4, IKZF2, and TOX and CD38 protein, whereby surface CD38^hi expression universally identified CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ RTEs. We further determined the dynamics of RTEs and mature cells in a cohort of 158 individuals, including age-associated transcriptional reprogramming and shifts in cytokine production. Spectral cytometry profiling revealed two axes of aging common to naive CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ T cells: (1) a decrease in CD38⁺⁺ cells (RTEs) and (2) an increase in CXCR3^hi cells. Identification of RTEs enables direct assessment of thymic health. Furthermore, resolving the dynamics of naive T cell remodeling yields insight into vaccination and infection responsiveness throughout aging.