Overcoming immune dysfunction in the elderly: trained immunity as a novel approach
Ozlem Bulut1,2, Gizem Kilic1,2, Jorge Domínguez-Andrés1,2
1Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
International Immunology
|August 9, 2020
Summary
Aging weakens the immune system, reducing vaccine effectiveness in older adults. This review explores trained immunity as a potential strategy to boost immune responses and improve vaccination outcomes in the elderly.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Gerontology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Immune system function declines with advanced age, increasing susceptibility to infections and reducing vaccine efficacy in the elderly.
- Innate and adaptive immune cells exhibit functional defects, including reduced phagocytosis, cytokine production, antibody diversity, and naive cell populations.
- Current vaccination strategies show decreased effectiveness in older individuals compared to younger adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review age-related immune system changes, focusing on innate immunity.
- To discuss current vaccination strategies for the elderly population.
- To introduce trained immunity as a novel approach to enhance immune responses and vaccination efficiency in older adults.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of age-related immune system changes.
- Analysis of current vaccination strategies for the elderly.
- Exploration of the concept and potential applications of trained immunity.
Main Results:
- Advanced age is associated with significant innate and adaptive immune system decline.
- Vaccine efficacy is notably reduced in elderly populations.
- Trained immunity presents a promising, yet understudied, avenue for enhancing elderly immunity.
Conclusions:
- Trained immunity, a form of innate immune memory, offers a potential strategy to counteract age-related immune deficiencies.
- Further research is needed to understand and harness trained immunity for improved protection against infections and enhanced vaccine responses in the elderly.
- This review highlights the need for novel approaches like trained immunity to address the challenges of vaccinating an aging population.
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