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Updated: Nov 8, 2025
05:27
An Intestinal Gut Organ Culture System for Analyzing Host-Microbiota Interactions
Published on: June 30, 2021
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The aging gut microbiome and its impact on host immunity
1Nestlé Research, Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, Department of Cell Biology, Cellular Metabolism, EPFL Innovation Park, Nestlé SA, Lausanne, Switzerland. nabil.bosco@rd.nestle.com.
Genes and Immunity
|April 20, 2021
Summary
Aging alters the gut microbiome and immune system, increasing disease risk. Interventions like prebiotics and probiotics may improve immune function and healthspan by targeting age-related microbial changes.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Geroscience
Background:
- The host-immune system and gut microbiome interact throughout life.
- Aging impacts both the immune system and gut microbiome composition and function.
- These age-related changes are linked to increased infections and reduced vaccine efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- Review hallmarks of immune and microbiome aging.
- Discuss how gut microbial changes ('microb-aging') affect immune fitness and health.
- Summarize interventions for immune rejuvenation via microbiome modulation.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of aging immunology and microbiome research.
- Analysis of studies on age-related gut dysbiosis.
- Synthesis of clinical trials using prebiotics and probiotics.
Main Results:
- Aging is characterized by immune senescence and gut dysbiosis.
- Microbial aging impacts host immune function and healthspan.
- Prebiotic and probiotic interventions show potential for immune support.
Conclusions:
- Targeting age-related gut dysbiosis may mitigate immunosenescence and improve health.
- Further clinical validation is needed to establish causality between dysbiosis and immune decline.
- Microbiome modulation offers a promising strategy for healthy aging.
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