The Links Between Aging and Immune Function Go Far Beyond Defense Against Pathogens

The immune system is deeply integrated into tissue function throughout the body. This goes far beyond merely identifying and chasing down invaders such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses. Immune cells of various types also help to coordinate tissue maintenance, regeneration from injury, and the destruction of damaged, cancerous, and senescent cells. In the brain, immune cells are involved in the maintenance and alteration of synaptic connections between neurons. Immune cells mediate inflammatory signaling, and that signaling is in turn highly influential on the behavior of other cells, altering tissue function, particularly when inflammation becomes chronic. One possibly overly simplistic view of the evolution of the immune system is that its present state is a balance between (a) providing a good-enough defense against pathogens and errant cells, and (b) minimizing harmful side-effects resulting from the inflammatory response. Too aggressive a response and individuals will lapse into chronic inflammation and early death. Too little of a response, and the pathogens win, again causing early death. Somewhere there is a happy medium that allows enough individuals to reproduce to ensure evolutionary success. But there are likely many other trade-offs under constant selection pressure, as discussed in today's open access paper. Functional conservation in genes and pathways linking ageing and immunity At first glance, longevity and immunity appear to be differen...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Medicine, Biotech, Research Source Type: blogs