Circulating T Cells of Patients with Nijmegen Breakage Syndrome Show Signs of Senescence

Purpose The Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS) is an inherited genetic disorder characterized by a typical facial appearance, microcephaly, growth retardation, immunodeficiency, and a strong predisposition to malignancies, especially of lymphoid origin. NBS patients have a mutation in the NBN gene which involves the repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Here we studied the peripheral T cell compartment of NBS patients with a focus on immunological senescence. Methods The absolute numbers and frequencies of the different T cell subsets were determined in NBS patients from young age till adulthood and compared to age-matched healthy individuals (HI). In addition, we determined the expression of senescent T cell markers and the signal joint T cell receptor excision circles (sjTRECs) content. Results Our results demonstrate that NBS patients have reduced T cell numbers. NBS patients showed lower numbers of αβ + T cells, but normal γδ + T cell numbers compared to HI. Concerning the αβ + T cells, both CD4 + as well as CD8 + T cells were excessively reduced in numbers compared to aged-matched HI. In addition, NBS patients showed higher frequencies of the more differentiated T cells expressing the senescent cell marker CD57 and did not express co-stimulatory molecule CD28. These effects were already present in the youngest age group. Furthermore, NBS patients showed lower sjTREC content in their T cells possibly indicative of a lower thymic output. Conclusions We conclude that circulating T cells from NBS patients show signs of a senescent phenotype which is already present from young age on and which might explain their T cell immune deficiency.