Aging, immunity and cancer

Curr Opin Immunol. 2004 Apr;16(2):151-6. doi: 10.1016/j.coi.2004.01.009.

Abstract

Immunosenescence, the progressive decline in immune function that develops with age, results from cumulative alterations in critical B- and T-cell subpopulations. Decreases in circulating memory B cells and in germinal center formation are evident in the elderly, possibly due to diminished follicular dendritic-cell function. T-cell dysfunction is associated with reduced thymic generation of naïve T cells, virus-induced expansion of terminal effectors and increased levels of memory cells producing type I and II cytokines. The diversity of the T-cell receptor repertoire is diminished by the first two changes, and elevated type I cytokines might contribute to the pro-inflammatory cytokine milieu present in the elderly.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aging / immunology*
  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Disease Susceptibility
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Cellular
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Immunologic Memory
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Models, Biological
  • Neoplasms / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*