Age- and sex-associated differences in immune cell populations
Reza Gheitasi1,2, Sabine Baumgart3,4, Daniela Roell1
1Institute for Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, 07747 Jena, Germany.
Iscience
|July 31, 2025
Summary
Immune cell composition varies with age and sex. This study reveals age-related declines in naive lymphocytes and sex-specific changes in T cells, highlighting immune system differences across the lifespan.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Gerontology
- Population Health
Background:
- Aging impacts immune responses, increasing infection severity.
- Understanding age- and sex-specific immune cell changes is crucial for health.
- Previous research indicates alterations in immune cell populations with age.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age- and sex-specific differences in immune cell composition.
- To identify interactions between age and sex in immune cell populations.
- To provide insights into variations in immune status across different age groups.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional analysis of immune cell composition.
- Utilized data from the population-based CoNAN study.
- Examined age and sex as factors influencing immune cell counts.
Main Results:
- Identified a significant age × sex interaction in memory B cells.
- Observed age-related declines in naive lymphocytes in both sexes.
- Noted an increase in CD8+ effector memory T cells in men and decreased dendritic cell subpopulations with age.
Conclusions:
- Immune cell composition is complexly dependent on age and sex, including interaction effects.
- Findings enhance understanding of immune status variations across ages.
- Further research is needed to explore the functional consequences of these compositional differences.
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