Dendritic cells in immunosenescence: [review]

ABSTRACT

The term immunosenescence usually refers to the aging of the immune system. Aging isassociated with the progressive decline in immune function, resulting in an increasing susceptibility of the bodyto infection, taking into account the specific changes in T- cells, macrophages, neutrophils and dendritic cells.Dendritic cells (DCs) are play a key role in the induction of both innate and adaptive immunity. There areimmature and mature forms located in the non-lymphatic organs and lymph nodes, respectively. DCs initiateand regulate the highly pathogen-specific adaptive immune responses, and are central to the development ofimmunologic memory and tolerance. In this text, we will briefly review DCs and changes associated withhuman aging, such as cytokine secretion, antigen capture, migration and priming of T cells. This functionaldecline would lead to major morbidity associated with infections such as influenza and pneumonia, whichaffect mucosal surfaces; in addition the increased incidence of cancer in the elderly is associated with thepotential role of DCs.