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Updated: Aug 22, 2025

Isolation and Characterization of the Immune Cells from Micro-dissected Mouse Choroid Plexuses
Published on: February 3, 2022
Neuroimmunology of healthy brain aging
Laura K Fonken1, Andrew D Gaudet2
1Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
Abstract:
Aging involves progressive deterioration away from homeostasis. Whereas the healthy adult brain maintains neuroimmune cells in a surveillant and homeostatic state, aged glial cells have a hyperreactive phenotype. These age-related pro-inflammatory biases are driven in part by cell-intrinsic factors, including increased cell priming and pro-inflammatory cell states. In addition, the aged inflammatory milieu is shaped by an altered environment, such as amplified danger signals and cytokines and dysregulated glymphatic function. These cell-instrinsic and environmental factors conspire to heighten the age-related risk for neuroimmune activation and associated pathology. In this review, we discuss cellular and molecular neuroimmune shifts with "healthy" aging; how these age-related changes affect physiology and behavior; and how recent research has revealed neuroimmune pathways and targets for improving health span.
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