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Review
. 2010 Jun;87(6):1001-9.
doi: 10.1189/jlb.0809542. Epub 2010 Mar 3.

Leukocyte function in the aging immune system

Anjali Desai  1 , Annabelle Grolleau-Julius, Raymond Yung
Affiliations
Review

Leukocyte function in the aging immune system

Anjali Desai et al. J Leukoc Biol. 2010 Jun.

Abstract

Aging is associated with a progressive dysregulation of immune responses. Whether these changes are solely responsible for the observed increased mortality and morbidity amongst the elderly is uncertain. Recent advances have highlighted the age-associated changes that occur beyond T and B lymphocytes. Additionally, multiple human and animal studies have identified a relationship between chronic low-grade inflammation and geriatric syndromes, such as frailty, suggesting that the phenomenon of "inflamm-aging" may provide a rationale for the increased vulnerability to chronic inflammatory diseases in older adults. In the present review, we broadly summarize our current understanding of age-dependent changes in leukocyte function and their contribution to aging-related disease processes.

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