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. 2009 Sep;5(4):551-559.
doi: 10.2217/ahe.09.47.

Changes in immune function in asthma in the elderly

Sameer K Mathur, Sharmilee M Nyenhuis

Changes in immune function in asthma in the elderly

Sameer K Mathur et al. Aging health. 2009 Sep.

Abstract

Asthma is an inflammatory disorder of the airway. The airway inflammation of asthma is typically an allergic inflammation characterized by cells and mediators described as a "Th2" inflammatory response. There is a growing body of evidence describing changes in the function of immune cells upon aging, a phenomenon referred to as "immunosenescence". Several studies utilizing animal models and human subjects with asthma have begun to explore age-related effects on the airway inflammation in asthma. This review explores the existing data on the presence and effects of immunosenescence or age-related changes in immune function in asthma.

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