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Neuroendocrine-immune interactions in healthy aging
Gianluigi Mazzoccoli1, Michele Inglese, Angelo De Cata
1Department of Internal Medicine and Chronobiology Unit, Scientific Institute and Regional General Hospital Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, S. Giovanni Rotondo, Italy. g.mazzoccoli@tin.it
Geriatrics & Gerontology International
|July 13, 2010
Summary
Aging alters the intricate connections between the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems. Elderly individuals show changes in immune cell populations and disrupted daily rhythms of key hormones and immune markers.
Area of Science:
- Neuroendocrinology
- Immunology
- Gerontology
- Chronobiology
Background:
- The nervous, endocrine, and immune systems are interconnected through shared signaling molecules.
- Circadian rhythms influence physiological functions, and age-related changes affect these rhythms.
- Understanding neuroendocrine-immune system integration is crucial for aging research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the integration among the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems in the elderly.
- To compare neuroendocrine-immune parameters and their temporal patterns in young-middle-aged versus old-aged individuals.
Main Methods:
- Blood samples were collected every 4 hours for 24 hours from healthy young-middle-aged (36-55 years) and old-aged (67-79 years) subjects.
- Serum cortisol and melatonin levels were measured.
- Lymphocyte subpopulations (CD20, CD25, DR+ T cells, CD3, CD8, CD16) were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Elderly subjects had higher CD25 (activated T cells) and DR+ T cells, but lower CD20 (B cells) compared to younger subjects.
- Correlations between lymphocyte subpopulations and hormone levels differed between age groups.
- Young-middle-aged subjects exhibited clear circadian rhythms for all studied factors; elderly subjects showed altered or phase-delayed rhythms for some immune cells and hormones.
Conclusions:
- Aging is associated with enhanced T-cell responsiveness and impaired B-cell function.
- Significant alterations in the temporal architecture and correlations of neuroendocrine-immune parameters occur with aging.
- These findings highlight age-related changes in the complex interplay between the neuroendocrine and immune systems.
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