Autoimmune & ArthritisHow Aging T Cells Drive Chronic Skin Inflammation and What Can Stop Them
As T cells age, they stop working properly and begin releasing harmful inflammatory signals — a process called immunosenescence. This review explains how these dysfunctional T cells contribute to common chronic skin conditions like psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, rosacea, and seborrheic dermatitis. Rather than simply failing quietly, senescent T cells actively secrete a cocktail of inflammatory molecules known as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype, or SASP, which keeps skin inflammation smoldering and makes diseases harder to treat. The review maps out the key molecular pathways involved — including NF-κB, JAK-STAT, and mTOR — and surveys existing and emerging therapies that target these pathways. The authors argue that directly eliminating senescent T cells or blocking their upstream signals could achieve deeper, more durable remission than current treatments.
