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Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 24, 2026

Measuring Frailty in HIV-infected Individuals. Identification of Frail Patients is the First Step to Amelioration and Reversal of Frailty
05:53

Measuring Frailty in HIV-infected Individuals. Identification of Frail Patients is the First Step to Amelioration and Reversal of Frailty

Published on: July 24, 2013

Frailty, inflammation, and immunity.

Huifen Li1, Bhavish Manwani, Sean X Leng

  • 1Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.

Aging and Disease
|March 8, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Frailty in older adults is linked to significant immune system dysregulation, including heightened inflammation and impaired adaptive immunity. Strategies to boost immune function are needed for this vulnerable population.

Keywords:
FrailtyIL-6inflammationinfluenza immunizationneopterin

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Area of Science:

  • Geriatric Medicine
  • Immunology
  • Inflammology

Background:

  • Frailty is a geriatric syndrome involving multisystem dysregulation and increased health risks.
  • Frail older adults exhibit a heightened inflammatory state, with elevated inflammatory molecules like IL-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP).
  • Chronic inflammation is hypothesized to contribute to frailty pathogenesis and negatively impact physiological systems.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the inflammatory and immune dysregulations associated with frailty in older adults.
  • To explore the role of immune activation in the pathogenesis of frailty.
  • To identify potential targets for improving immune function in frail elderly individuals.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of inflammatory markers (IL-6, CRP, WBCs, neopterin) in frail individuals.
  • Assessment of monocyte and macrophage inflammatory pathway gene expression.
  • Evaluation of peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) proliferation in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS).
  • Characterization of T-cell alterations (CD8+, CCR5+, CD28 expression) in frail adults.
  • Examination of antibody responses to pneumococcal and influenza immunization.

Main Results:

  • Frail older adults show elevated inflammatory markers and immune cell activation.
  • Decreased lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was observed.
  • Significant alterations in T-cell populations, including CD8+ and CCR5+ T cell expansion and CD28 loss, were identified.
  • Impaired antibody responses to vaccinations and reduced protection against influenza were noted in frail individuals.

Conclusions:

  • Frailty is characterized by significant inflammatory and immune dysregulation.
  • These immune deficits may contribute to the adverse health outcomes seen in frail older adults.
  • Developing strategies to enhance immune function is crucial for this vulnerable elderly population.