Immune System Aging as an Important Contributing Factor in the Progression of Many Age-Related Diseases

The immune system influences the function of tissues throughout the body. Immune cells are involved in tissue maintenance and wound healing, in the necessary day to day clearance of senescent cells, in the removal of cell debris and molecular waste. In some organs they have even more vital functions, such as assisting in the maintenance of synaptic connections in the brain. Further, immune cells produce inflammatory and anti-inflammatory signals that influence the behavior of other cells in numerous ways. Thus when the immune system runs awry and falters with age, the downstream consequences are pervasive and consequential. The most obvious issue in immune system aging is a failing capacity to defend against pathogens. When all infections become more serious, causing more harm, this combines poorly with the diminished resilience of an older individual. But there is far more to immune aging than just this. A poor defense against infection is just one slice of the consequences. Arguably the most problematic issue is chronic inflammation, the continual inappropriate activation of immune cells and inflammatory signaling, normally beneficial and useful in the short term, but very harmful when maintained over the long term. Chronic inflammation accelerates the onset and progression of near all of the common fatal age-related conditions. It makes atherosclerosis worse, it drives the pathology of neurodegenerative conditions, it disrupts tissue maintenance. All of this ...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Medicine, Biotech, Research Source Type: blogs