Cited by 389Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model OrganismsT-cell and B-cell ImmunologyTelomeres, Telomerase, and Senescence

Immunosenescence in aging: Between immune cells depletion and cytokines up-regulation

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Ventura, Maria Teresa, Casciaro, Marco, Gangemi, Sebastiano, Buquicchio, Rosalba·2017·Clinical and Molecular Allergy

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The immunosenescence is a relatively recent chapter, correlated with the linear extension of the average life began in the nineteenth century and still in progress. The most important feature of immunosenescence is the accumulation in the "immunological space" of memory and effector cells as a result of the stimulation caused by repeated clinical and subclinical infections and by continuous exposure to antigens (inhalant allergens, food, etc.). This state of chronic inflammation that characterizes senescence has a significant impact on survival and fragility. In fact, the condition of frail elderly occurs less frequently in situations characterized by poor contact with viral infections and parasitic diseases. Furthermore the immunosenescence is characterized by a particular "remodelling" of the immune system, induced by oxidative stress. Apoptosis plays a central role in old age, a period in which the ability of apoptosis can change. The remodelling of apoptosis, together with the Inflammaging and the up-regulation of the immune response with the consequent secretion of pro-inflammatory lymphokines represents the major determinant of the rate of aging and longevity, as well as of the most common diseases related with age and with tumors. Other changes occur in the innate immunity, the first line of defence providing rapid, but unspecific and incomplete protection, consisting mostly of monocytes, natural killer cells and dendritic cells, acting up to the establishment of a adaptive immune response, which is slower, but highly specific, which cellular substrate consists of T and B lymphocytes. The markers of "Inflammaging" in adaptive immunity in centenarians are characterized by a decrease in T cells "naive." The reduction of CD8 virgins may be related to the risk of morbidity and death, as well as the combination of the increase of CD8+ cells and reduction of CD4+ T cells and the reduction of CD19+ B cells. The immune function of the elderly is weakened to due to the exhaustion of T cell-virgin (CD95-), which are replaced with the clonal expansion of CD28-T cells. CONCLUSIONS: The increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines is associated with dementia, Parkinson's disease, atherosclerosis, diabetes type 2, sarcopenia and a high risk of morbidity and mortality. A correct modulation of immune responses and apoptotic phenomena can be useful to reduce age-related degenerative diseases, as well as inflammatory and neoplastic diseases.

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  • In older people, a lifetime of exposure to antigens and to numerous sources of oxidative stress can cause immune dysregulation that makes them more susceptible to infections than any other age group apart from young children.

    “In older people, a lifetime of exposure to antigens and to numerous sources of oxidative stress can cause immune dysregulation that makes them more susceptible to infections than any other age group apart from young children [23,35,36].”
  • It is especially important to ensure that antioxidant levels (e.g., vitamins C, E, and A) and micronutrients that are components of antioxidant enzymes (e.g., zinc, copper, iron, and selenium) are sufficient to combat the oxidative stress that is induced by many lifestyle factors common in this group, and which has great impact on immune function.

    “It is especially important to ensure that antioxidant levels (e.g., vitamins C, E, and A) and micronutrients that are components of antioxidant enzymes (e.g., zinc, copper, iron, and selenium) are sufficient to combat the oxidative stress that is induced by many lifestyle factors common in this group, and which has great impact on immune function [10,23,35,36,44].”

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Authors
Ventura, M. T., Casciaro, M., Gangemi, S., & Buquicchio, R.
Affiliations
  • University of Bari Aldo Moro (IT)
  • University of Messina (IT)
  • Azienda Universitaria Ospedaliera Consorziale - Policlinico Bari (IT)
Corresponding author
Casciaro, Marco
Venue
Clinical and Molecular Allergy
Published
2017-12
Volume
15
Issue
1
Pages
21-21
ISSN
1476-7961 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2773578465
Cited by
389
References
70
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 31 · 2023: 81 · 2022: 48 · 2021: 67 · 2020: 63 · 2019: 44 · 2018: 22
FWCI
3.91
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Clinical and Molecular Allergy (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
  • CINECA IRIS Institutional Research Information System (University of Bari Aldo Moro) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Aging › Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › T-cell and B-cell Immunology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Telomeres, Telomerase, and Senescence
Keywords
immunosenescence, aging, inflammaging, chronic inflammation, inflammatory cytokines, T cell exhaustion, naive T cells, CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, B cells, apoptosis, oxidative stress, innate immunity, centenarians, frailty, age-related diseases, longevity

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