Immunosenescence in Humans: Deterioration or Remodelling?

Abstract

Aging has been studied extensively. Conversely, longevity, and particularly human longevity, has been neglected [l]. Hundreds of theories are available on aging, indicating that scientists are still far from understanding the biological and cultural basis of this process. To this long list of theories, we have added a new one, based on the consideration that the maintenance of soma integrity is the consequence of a continuous activity of a limited number of cellular defense mechanisms [2-51. We have hypothesized that DNA repair, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, production of heat shock and stress proteins, and activity of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase form a network of interconnected cellular defense mechanisms, whose global efficiency has been evolutionary set at different levels in different species and in different individuals of the same species. We have also speculated that apoptosis is a fundamental biological process which can join the list of cellular defense mechanisms, being an ancestral process used to eliminate damaged, mutated, viral-infected or transformed cells [6, 71. On the whole, the above mentioned cellular defense mechanisms can be considered as the basic molecular and cellular anti-aging systems.

HLA haplotypes and TNF polymorphism do not associate with longevity in the Irish

“…Dysregulation of immune function accompanying ageing (immunosenescence) is postulated to contribute to morbidity and mortality in the aged via an increased risk of disease, infection, tumours, and autoimmune disorders (Franceschi et al, 1995;Pawelec and Solana, 1997;Franceschi et al, 1998;Makinodan, 1998;Solana and Pawelec, 1998;Pawelec, 1999;Franceschi et al, 2000;Malaguarnera et al, 2001). The highly polymorphic human leukocyte antigen (HLA) complex is located on chromosome 6p21 and is divided into three regions containing class I, class III and class II genes, respectively.…”

Cancer Chemotherapy in the Elderly

“…Intrathymic T-cell selection and maturation are impossible, and therefore the supply of new naive T cells from the thymus to the periphery is diminished in the elderly. In consequence, the number of naive T cells decreases, but that of memory T cells increases with aging because antigen-driven conversion of naive to memory cells still continues throughout life (79,81,82). The responsiveness of T cells to antigens and mitogens seems to decline in the elderly, which is explained at least in part by increased rigidity of the plasma membrane, decreased surface expression of co-stimulatory molecules, and altered signal transduction pathways of T cells in the elderly (79,81,83).…”

Benefical effects of mediterranean diet in neuroinflammation and related diseases

“…It has been determined that these molecules also play a central role in the ageing processes. During ageing there is a decrease, reversible, in the levels of IL2 cytokine, which is important in the development of Th1 and population in increased production of pro inflammatory mediators such as IL1, IL6, and TNFalpha [40]. The increase in the age-related inflammatory markers (inflammaging) could be the basis of the reduced ability for elderly subjects to cope with various stressors.…”