Oxidative stress and immunosenescence / 中华老年医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Immunosenescence is a process characterized by alterations and progressive deterioration of the structure and function of the immune system.Manifestations of immunosenescence include damage to both innate and adaptive immunity,reduction of immune responses to antigen stimulation,quantitative and functional changes of immune cells and alterations of cytokine activities,all of which may result in attenuated responses to vaccines,enhanced chronic inflammatory reactions,an elevated risk of infections and an increased susceptibility to cancer among old individuals.In recent years,it has been increasingly recognized that oxidative stress plays a vital role in immunosenescence.This review is focused on the influences of oxidative stress on the structure,function and generation of immunecells and the major mechanisms underlying immunosenescence.