Advancing age and immune cell dysfunction: is it reversible or not?
1Oakland University, Department of Biological Sciences, SEB 305, Rochester, Michigan, USA. suvas@oakland.edu
Background:
Decline in immune function with advancing age is a hallmark of aging. As a result, infectious diseases cause more morbidity and mortality to the elderly. These age-related changes significantly alter the functionality of both innate and adaptive immune components.
Objectives:
Although age-associated dysfunction of the immune system is well reported, not much is known about the extrinsic and intrinsic factors that progressively bring about functional changes in immune cell types.
Methods:
This review focuses on our current understanding of age-associated changes in innate and adaptive immune cell types and how this knowledge could be used to improve the immune competence of elderly individuals.
Results/Conclusion:
Therapeutic approaches to rejuvenate the exhausted immune system in the elderly need more attention.
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