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Immune Age, Cardiovascular Disease, and Anti-Viral Immunity
Kevin-Phu C Le1,2,3, Fahad Shuja4, Jorg J Goronzy1,2,5
1Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Cells
|November 26, 2025
Summary
Aging impairs immune responses, increasing risks for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and severe viral infections. Shared immune aging mechanisms worsen atherosclerosis and hinder anti-viral defenses, creating a dangerous feedback loop.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Gerontology
Background:
- Aging is a primary risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and severe viral infections.
- Immune system decline with age (immune aging) compromises anti-viral defenses.
- Chronic inflammation (inflammaging) associated with aging exacerbates CVD, particularly atherosclerosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review evidence linking immune aging to atherosclerosis and impaired viral immunity.
- To explore the mutual influence between CVD and immune dysfunction in older adults.
- To propose mechanisms by which immune aging contributes to both conditions.
Main Methods:
- Review of current scientific literature on immunology, aging, and cardiovascular disease.
- Analysis of shared and distinct mechanisms underlying immune aging.
- Exploration of bidirectional interactions between atherosclerosis and immune system function.
Main Results:
- Immune aging promotes inflammation in atherosclerosis while diminishing anti-viral responses.
- Effective anti-viral responses can paradoxically worsen CVD through immune cell exhaustion.
- CVD impacts innate immunity via epigenetic changes and metabolic conditioning, impairing host defense.
Conclusions:
- Immune aging is a critical factor linking cardiovascular disease and susceptibility to viral infections.
- Dysfunctional immune responses in aging individuals exacerbate atherosclerosis and viral vulnerability.
- Understanding these links is crucial for developing strategies to improve health in older adults.
Keywords:
B cell agingDNA methylationT cell agingatherosclerosiscardiovascular diseasehematopoietic stem cellimmune checkpointmacrophage agingviral infectionMore Related Videos
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