The role of low-grade inflammation and metabolic flexibility in aging and nutritional modulation thereof: A systems biology approach

Publication date: March–April 2014 Source:Mechanisms of Ageing and Development, Volumes 136–137 Author(s): Dulce Calçada , Dario Vianello , Enrico Giampieri , Claudia Sala , Gastone Castellani , Albert de Graaf , Bas Kremer , Ben van Ommen , Edith Feskens , Aurelia Santoro , Claudio Franceschi , Jildau Bouwman Aging is a biological process characterized by the progressive functional decline of many interrelated physiological systems. In particular, aging is associated with the development of a systemic state of low-grade chronic inflammation (inflammaging), and with progressive deterioration of metabolic function. Systems biology has helped in identifying the mediators and pathways involved in these phenomena, mainly through the application of high-throughput screening methods, valued for their molecular comprehensiveness. Nevertheless, inflammation and metabolic regulation are dynamical processes whose behavior must be understood at multiple levels of biological organization (molecular, cellular, organ, and system levels) and on multiple time scales. Mathematical modeling of such behavior, with incorporation of mechanistic knowledge on interactions between inflammatory and metabolic mediators, may help in devising nutritional interventions capable of preventing, or ameliorating, the age-associated functional decline of the corresponding systems.
Source: Mechanisms of Ageing and Development - Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research