Cited by 465Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model OrganismsImmune Response and InflammationTelomeres, Telomerase, and Senescence

Immunology of aging: the birth of inflammaging

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Fulop, T., Larbi, A., Pawelec, G., Khalil, A., Cohen, A. A., Hirokawa, K., Witkowski, J. M., Franceschi, C.·2021·Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology

Abstract

The inflammaging concept was introduced in 2000 by Prof. Franceschi. This was an evolutionary or rather a revolutionary conceptualization of the immune changes in response to a lifelong stress. This conceptualization permitted to consider the lifelong proinflammatory process as an adaptation which could eventually lead to either beneficial or detrimental consequences. This dichotomy is influenced by both the genetics and the environment. Depending on which way prevails in an individual, the outcome may be healthy longevity or pathological aging burdened with aging-related diseases. The concept of inflammaging has also revealed the complex, systemic nature of aging. Thus, this conceptualization opens the way to consider age-related processes in their complexity, meaning that not only the process but also all counter-processes should be considered. It has also opened the way to add new concepts to the original one, leading to better understanding of the nature of inflammaging and of aging itself. Finally, it showed the way towards potential multimodal interventions involving a holistic approach to optimize the aging process towards a healthy longevity.

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  • Aging is associated with chronic, low-grade inflammation, with proinflammatory cytokines notably increased, including immune cells infiltrating WAT.

    “A relationship between aging and chronic, low-grade inflammation exists, in which a term called “inflammaging” arose, coined by Dr. Franceschi in the year 2000 (38). With this, proinflammatory cytokines are notably increased, including immune cells infiltrating WAT (38).”

    From Metabolic impact of endogenously produced estrogens by adipose tissue in females and males across the lifespan (2025) · cites this paper as [38]

    The ‘Birth of Inflammaging’ section says pro-inflammatory status increases with aging and identifies Franceschi’s 2000 introduction of the concept. The ‘Inflammaging as the Primum Movens’ section describes its common definition as chronic, low-grade inflammation, and the paper reports increased IL-6 with aging. The passages found do not support the specific claim that immune cells infiltrate white adipose tissue (WAT). Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. [128]Ottaviani E Franceschi C (1997) The invertebrate phagocytic immunocyte: clues to a common evolution of immune and neuroendocrine systems Immunol Today 1997 18 4 169 174 10.1016/s0167-5699(97)84663-4 9136453 · DOI
  2. [154]Ong SM Hadadi E Dang TM Yeap WH Tan CT Ng TP Larbi A Wong SC (2018) The pro-inflammatory phenotype of the human non-classical monocyte subset is attributed to senescence Cell Death Dis 2018 9 3 266 10.1038/s41419-018-0327-1 29449647 PMC5833376 · DOI · Paper page
  3. [157]Bektas A Schurman SH Sen R Ferrucci L (2017) Human T cell immunosenescence and inflammation in aging J Leukoc Biol 2017 102 4 977 988 10.1189/jlb.3RI0716-335R 28733462 PMC5597513 · DOI
  4. [186]Janac S Clarke B Gems D Vaiserman AM Aging: natural or disease? A view from medical textbooks Anti-aging drugs: from basic research to clinical practice 2017 Cambridge (UK) Royal Society of Chemistry 2017 32881471

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Authors
Fulop, T., Larbi, A., Pawelec, G., Khalil, A., Cohen, A. A., Hirokawa, K., Witkowski, J. M., & Franceschi, C.
Affiliations
  • Agency for Science, Technology and Research (SG)
  • Health Sciences North (CA)
  • Université de Sherbrooke (CA)
  • Tokyo Medical and Dental University (JP)
  • Gdańsk Medical University (PL)
  • N. I. Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod (RU)
Venue
Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology
Published
2021-09-18
Volume
64
Issue
2
Pages
109-122
ISSN
  • 1080-0549 (ISSN-L)
  • 1559-0267
OpenAlex
W3201542050
Cited by
464
References
205
Citations by year
2026: 104 · 2025: 131 · 2024: 111 · 2023: 63 · 2022: 52 · 2021: 2 · 2013: 1
FWCI
4.65
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • cihr (106634 and PJT-162366)
  • fonds de recherche du québec-société et culture
  • krajowy naukowy osrodek wiodacy
  • a*star
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Aging › Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immune Response and Inflammation
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Telomeres, Telomerase, and Senescence
Keywords
inflammaging, immunosenescence, aging, low-grade inflammation, healthy longevity, age-related diseases, genetic and environmental factors, multimodal intervention
MeSH terms
Aging, Female, Humans, Inflammation, Longevity, Pregnancy, Parturition

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