Cytomegalovirus in the Immunology of Aging

The open access editorial noted here serves as an introduction to some of the current thinking on the role of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in the age-related decline of the immune system. CMV infection is pervasive throughout the population, particularly in the old. This persistent viral infection cannot be effectively cleared by the immune system, and an ever greater percentage of immune cells become uselessly specialized to fight CMV. This leaves ever fewer immune cells ready to tackle other threats. This seems an important component of immune dysfunction, one that can perhaps be addressed by selectively destroying these immune cells to free up space for replacements. The research community is by no means unified on this view of CMV, however, as illustrated here. Aging represents a paradox of immunodeficiency and inflammation (inflammaging) and autoimmunity. Over the lifespan there are changes in the architecture and functioning of the immune system, often termed immunosenescence. Recently, there have been major developments in understanding the cellular and molecular bases, and genetic and epigenetic changes, in the innate and the adaptive immune system during aging, and the interactions between these separate arms of vertebrate immunity. Limited longitudinal studies have begun to reveal biomarkers of immune aging, which may be considered to constitute an "immune risk profile" (IRP) predicting mortality and frailty in the very elderly. Hallmark parameters of the IRP may ...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs