Age-associated alterations in immune function and inflammation.
Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry
; 118: 110576, 2022 08 30.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1889770
ABSTRACT
Immunosenescence is a term used to describe the age-related changes in the immune system. Immunosenescence is associated with complex alterations and dysregulation of immune function and inflammatory processes. Age-related changes in innate immune responses including alterations in chemotactic, phagocytic, and natural killing functions, impaired antigen presenting capacity, and dysregulated inflammatory response have been described. The most striking and best characterized feature of immunosenescence is the decline in both number and function of T cells. With age there is decreased proliferation, decreased number of antigen-naïve T cells, and increased number of antigen-experienced memory T cells. This decline in naïve T cell population is associated with impaired immunity and reduced response to new or mutated pathogens. While the absolute number of peripheral B cells appears constant with age, changes in B cell functions including reduced antibody production and response and cell memory have been described. However, the main alteration in cell-mediated function that has been reported across all species with aging is those observed in in T cell. These T cell mediated changes have been shown to contribute to increased susceptibility to infection and cancer in older adults. In addition to functional and phenotype alterations in immune cells, studies demonstrate that circulating concentrations of inflammatory mediators in older adults are higher than those of young. This low grade, chronic inflammatory state that occurs in the context of aging has been termed "inflammaging". This review will focus on age-related changes in the immune system including immunosenescence and inflammation as well as the functional consequences of these age-related alterations for the aged.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Immunosenescence
Limits:
Aged
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
J.pnpbp.2022.110576
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