Age and immunity: What is "immunosenescence"?
1Second Department of Internal Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Health Sciences North Research Institute, Sudbury, ON, Canada; The John van Geest Cancer Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK; Division of Cancer Studies, King's College London, London, UK.
Experimental Gerontology
|November 8, 2017
Summary
Aging significantly impacts the immune system, a process termed immunosenescence. This review critically examines the definition and underlying mechanisms of immunosenescence to clarify current understanding.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Aging is associated with a decline in immune function, known as immunosenescence.
- Immunosenescence contributes to various health issues in older adults, including impaired vaccine responses, reduced anti-cancer immunity, increased inflammation, and susceptibility to infections and autoimmunity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically re-evaluate the definition and conceptualization of immunosenescence.
- To address the need for a clearer understanding of immunosenescence mechanisms due to its significant clinical implications.
Main Methods:
- This contribution is a review and conceptual analysis of existing knowledge on immunosenescence.
- It involves reconsidering the fundamental definition and paradigms of immunosenescence.
Main Results:
- The current understanding of immunosenescence may be influenced by early, limited data, potentially shaping research perspectives disproportionately.
- A re-examination of the basic definition of immunosenescence is warranted.
Conclusions:
- Clarifying the definition and mechanisms of immunosenescence is crucial for addressing age-related immune dysregulation.
- A more precise understanding of immunosenescence is needed to improve health outcomes in aging populations.
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