Compartmentalization of immunosenescence: a deeper look at the mucosa

Developments in medical care and living conditions led to an astonishing increase in life-span perspective and subsequently a rise in the old population. This can be seen as a success for public health policies but it also challenges society to adapt, in order to cope with the potentially overwhelmi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biogerontology 2016-02, Vol.17 (1), p.159-176
Main Authors: Martelli, Serena, Pender, Sylvia L. F., Larbi, Anis
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptive Immunity - immunology
Animals
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Cell Biology
Developmental Biology
Geriatrics/Gerontology
Humans
Immunity, Innate - immunology
Immunologic Factors - immunology
Immunosenescence - immunology
Inflammation - immunology
Inflammation - pathology
Life Sciences
Models, Immunological
Review Article
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Summary:Developments in medical care and living conditions led to an astonishing increase in life-span perspective and subsequently a rise in the old population. This can be seen as a success for public health policies but it also challenges society to adapt, in order to cope with the potentially overwhelming cost for the healthcare system. A fast-growing number of older people lose their ability to live independently because of diseases and disabilities, frailty or cognitive impairment. Many require long-term care, including home-based nursing, communities and hospital-based care. Immunosenescence, an age-related deterioration in immune functions, is considered a major contributory factor for the higher prevalence and severity of infectious diseases and the poor efficacy of vaccination in the elderly. When compared with systemic immunosenescence, alterations in the mucosal immune system with age are less well understood. For this reason, this area deserves more extensive and intensive research and support. In this article, we provide an overview of age-associated changes occurring in systemic immunity and discuss the distinct features of mucosal immunosenescence.
ISSN:1389-5729
1573-6768
DOI:10.1007/s10522-015-9628-2