Immunity and longevity

Abstract

The role of immune system is to protect the organism from the not built-in program-like alterations inside and against the agents penetrating from outside (bacteria, viruses, and protozoa). These functions were developed and formed during the evolution. Considering these functions, the immune system promotes the lengthening of lifespan and helps longevity. However, some immune functions have been conveyed by men to medical tools (e.g., pharmaceuticals, antibiotics, and prevention), especially in our modern age, which help the struggle against microbes, but evolutionarily weaken the immune system. Aging is a gradual slow attrition by autoimmunity, directed by the thymus and regulated by the central nervous system and pineal gland. Considering this, thymus could be a pacemaker of aging. The remodeling of the immune system, which can be observed in elderly people and centenarians, is probably not a cause of aging, but a consequence of it, which helps to suit immunity to the requirements. Oxidative stress also helps the attrition of the immune cells and antioxidants help to prolong lifespan. There are gender differences in the aging of the immune system as well as in the longevity. There is an advantage for women in both cases. This can be explained by hormonal differences (estrogens positively influences both processes); however, social factors are also not excluded. The endocrine disruptor chemicals act similar to estrogens, like stimulating or suppressing immunity and provoking autoimmunity; however, their role in longevity is controversial. There are some drugs (rapamycin, metformin, and selegiline) and antioxidants (as vitamins C and E) that prolong lifespan and also improve immunity. It is difficult to declare that longevity is exclusively dependent on the state of the immune system; however, there is a parallelism between the state of immune system and lifespan. It seems likely that there is not a real decline of immunity during aging, but there is a remodeling of the system according to the claims of senescence. This is manifested in the remaining (sometimes stronger) function of memory cells in contrast to the production and number of the new antigen-reactive naive T-cells.

Difference between the biologic and chronologic age as an individualized indicator for the skin care intensity selection: skin topography and immune system state studies, parameter correlations with age difference

“…Quantization of the phagocytosis of opsonized sheep erythrocytes by macrophages was done visually under optical microscope by measuring the numbers of monocytes attached to the membrane surface of opsonized sheep erythrocytes (membrane-bound monocytes) and the number of monocytes that have ingested opsonized sheep erythrocytes (monocyte-ingested erythrocytes), as a percentage of the overall monocyte numbers. Mastocyte count measurement was incorporated into the experimental procedure as their levels were shown to decrease with aging in animal experiments (Benjamin 1947;Voitenko and Tokar 1983;Hart et al 1999;Martínez de Toda et al 2016;Kang et al 2017;Csaba 2019;Fahy et al 2019).…”

“…So far, it is accepted that multiparameter (multimarker)-based methods are the best candidates for the development of aging criteria, in particular the criteria of skin aging (e.g., Voitenko and Tokar 1983; Alonso-Fernández and de la Fuente 2011; Castelo-Branco and Soveral 2014; Martínez de Toda et al 2016; Kang et al 2017;Csaba 2019;Fahy et al 2019). Recent research makes use of an old concept of biologic age (Benjamin 1947), suggesting introduction of a cumulative factor including multiple parameters related to aging process (e.g., Voitenko and Tokar 1983;Klemera and Doubal 2006;Gruenewald et al 2006; Alonso-Fernández and de la Fuente 2011; Castelo-Branco and Soveral 2014; Belsky et al 2015;Belsky et al 2017;Martínez de Toda et al 2016;Kang et al 2017;Csaba 2019;Fahy et al 2019). Modern approach to the calculation of biologic age (BA) incorporates a number of objectively measurable and quantifiable parameters including body mass index, arterial pressure, different cardiorespiratory parameters, blood cholesterol levels and white blood cell counts, urea composition, etc.…”

“…Modern approach to the calculation of biologic age (BA) incorporates a number of objectively measurable and quantifiable parameters including body mass index, arterial pressure, different cardiorespiratory parameters, blood cholesterol levels and white blood cell counts, urea composition, etc. (e.g., Voitenko and Tokar 1983;Klemera and Doubal 2006;Gruenewald et al 2006; Alonso-Fernández and de la Fuente 2011; Castelo-Branco and Soveral 2014; Martínez de Toda et al 2016; Kang et al 2017;Csaba 2019;Fahy et al 2019). These parameters are used in formal mathematical expressions for calculating estimated BA value.…”

“…Different researchers utilize different sets of parameters and different expressions, but one can outline few common conclusions. Firstly, in the groups of individuals with the same chronologic age (CA; age according to the year of birth), biologic age is covering the values from far lower to far higher than the chronologic age (Voitenko and Tokar 1983; Alonso-Fernández and de la Fuente 2011; Castelo-Branco and Soveral 2014; Belsky et al 2015;Trojahn et al 2015;Belsky et al 2017;Martínez de Toda et al 2016;Kang et al 2017;Csaba 2019;Fahy et al 2019). Basing on a study of calculated biologic age for individuals with the same chronologic age and significant difference of BA and CA, it was found that a pace of aging is increasing with increasing chronologic age.…”

“…Castelo-Branco and Soveral 2014; Martínez de Toda et al 2016; Kang et al 2017;Csaba 2019;Fahy et al 2019).…”