Aging and Options to Halt Declining Immunity to Virus Infections

Abstract

Immunosenescence is a process associated with aging that leads to dysregulation of cells of innate and adaptive immunity, which may become dysfunctional. Consequently, older adults show increased severity of viral and bacterial infections and impaired responses to vaccinations. A better understanding of the process of immunosenescence will aid the development of novel strategies to boost the immune system in older adults. In this review, we focus on major alterations of the immune system triggered by aging, and address the effect of chronic viral infections, effectiveness of vaccination of older adults and strategies to improve immune function in this vulnerable age group.

Effects of Acupuncture Combined with Exercise on Expression of Immune Factors in Aging Rats and Its Significance in Antiaging Intervention

“…D-Galactose is a physiological nutrient involved in the metabolism of glucose, but excessive intake of D-galactose will lead to accumulation in the body and conversion of intracellular aldose reductase into galactitol that cannot be metabolized normally [ 22 ]. The accumulation of these nonnormally metabolized galactitols in the body will further affect the osmotic pressure of cells, resulting in swelling of cells, increased levels of reactive oxygen species in the body, and damage to cellular biofilm lipids, metabolic disorders, and dysfunction of cells leading to aging [ 23 ]. The construction of subacute aging molds using D-galactose has been widely used in experimental studies in China.…”

“…After the experiment, the spleen index of the acupuncture exercise group was significantly higher than that of the exercise group, and the acupuncture exercise group was significantly lower than the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0:05). Computational and Mathematical Methods in Medicine of cells, increased levels of reactive oxygen species in the body, and damage to cellular biofilm lipids, metabolic disorders, and dysfunction of cells leading to aging [23]. The construction of subacute aging molds using D-galactose has been widely used in experimental studies in China.…”

How Can We Improve Vaccination Response in Old People? Part I: Targeting Immunosenescence of Innate Immunity Cells

“…Several studies demonstrate that functional alterations of neutrophils with age are stimulus-dependent and are related to the capacity of these cells to respond appropriately to infections [ 27 , 28 ]. For example, it has been observed that a reduced number of neutrophils in the older people are affected by severe infections, due to a reduced capacity of neutrophil progenitors to respond to G-CSF and, consequently, to differentiate into mature neutrophils.…”

“…Monocytes participate in the resolution of inflammation, producing anti-inflammatory cytokines and lipidic mediators, enabling them to participate in wound healing and tissue remodelling. They also have an important role as antigen presenting cells (APCs) [ 28 ]. There are three different subsets of monocytes which can be distinguished on the basis of the expression of surface molecules: (i) classical CD14 + CD16 − , (ii) intermediate CD14 + CD16 + , (iii) and non-classical CD14 dim/low CD16 + .…”

Dynamic organization of the bone marrow plasma cell niche

“…It also provides an alternative explanation as to why elderly adults have weaker and shorter-lived immune responses. Although the standard argument would be that elderly adults have numerous defects in immune response [88][89][90], it is also possible that new PCs cannot compete with super LLPCs, particularly in a diminished BM niche, with reduced APRIL in elderly adults (Fig. 4) [91].…”