The DOI matches its Crossref record; 97 of the 97 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
The immune system and aging: a review
Abstract
Abstract The concept of immunosenescence reflects age-related changes in immune responses, both cellular and serological, affecting the process of generating specific responses to foreign and self-antigens. The decline of the immune system with age is reflected in the increased susceptibility to infectious diseases, poorer response to vaccination, increased prevalence of cancer, autoimmune and other chronic diseases. Both innate and adaptive immune responses are affected by the aging process; however, the adaptive response seems to be more affected by the age-related changes in the immune system. Additionally, aged individuals tend to present a chronic low-grade inflammatory state that has been implicated in the pathogenesis of many age-related diseases (atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, osteoporosis and diabetes). However, some individuals arrive to advanced ages without any major health problems, referred to as healthy aging. The immune system dysfunction seems to be somehow mitigated in this population, probably due to genetic and environmental factors yet to be described. In this review, an attempt is made to summarize the current knowledge on how the immune system is affected by the aging process.
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“As humans age, the immune system evolves from the immature and developing immune responses in infants and children, through to immune function that is potentially optimal in adolescents and young adults, followed by a gradual decline in immunity (particularly adaptive processes) in older people [1].”
From Immune function and micronutrient requirements change over the life course (2018) · cites this paper as [1]
In the citing paper
“Some older people age without any major health problems, known as healthy ageing, and immune system dysfunction appears to be mitigated in this population [1].”
From Immune function and micronutrient requirements change over the life course (2018) · cites this paper as [1]
In the citing paper
“Increased levels of circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., tumor-necrosis factor alpha, IL-1, and IL-6 [1,25]) characterize low-grade chronic inflammation in older people, a process known as inflamm-aging [1].”
From Immune function and micronutrient requirements change over the life course (2018) · cites this paper as [1]
In the citing paper
“In older people, functional activity of immune cells such as phagocytes and the intracellular respiratory burst necessary to kill pathogens are reduced [1].”
From Immune function and micronutrient requirements change over the life course (2018) · cites this paper as [1]
In the citing paper
“Many of the most common chronic diseases associated with ageing, such as atherosclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis and diabetes [1], are related to low-grade inflammation [32].”
From Immune function and micronutrient requirements change over the life course (2018) · cites this paper as [1]
In the citing paper
“This is the case in many older people, and these factors may explain why they have a poorer response to vaccines than the young [1,36].”
From Immune function and micronutrient requirements change over the life course (2018) · cites this paper as [1]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Castelo-Branco, C., & Soveral, I.
- Affiliations
- Faculty of Medicine, Institut Clínic of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Neonatology, University of Barcelona BarcelonaSpain
- Consorci Institut D'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi I Sunyer (ES)
- ORCID
- Soveral, Iris
- Venue
- Gynecological Endocrinology
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2013-11-12
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 16-22
- ISSN
- 0951-3590 (ISSN-L)
- 1473-0766
- OpenAlex
- W2027663660
- Cited by
- 449
- References
- 97
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 46 · 2024: 41 · 2023: 50 · 2022: 60 · 2021: 57 · 2020: 36 · 2019: 31 · 2018: 39 · 2017: 26 · 2016: 25 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 3
- FWCI
- 1.37
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Gynecological Endocrinology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › T-cell and B-cell Immunology
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Aging › Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immune responses and vaccinations
- Keywords
- immunosenescence, aging, immune system, innate immunity, adaptive immunity, low-grade inflammation, vaccine response, cancer susceptibility, autoimmune disease, healthy aging, age-related diseases
- MeSH terms
- Aging, Animals, Endocrine System, Humans, Immune System, Immunity, Innate, Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes, Inflammation, Autoimmunity, Cellular Senescence, Adaptive Immunity
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