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Editorial
. 2020 Dec 1;11(6):1363-1373.
doi: 10.14336/AD.2020.0603. eCollection 2020 Dec.

Innate and Adaptive Immunity in Aging and Longevity: The Foundation of Resilience

Alexey Moskalev  1 , Ilia Stambler  2 , Calogero Caruso  3
Affiliations
Editorial

Innate and Adaptive Immunity in Aging and Longevity: The Foundation of Resilience

Alexey Moskalev et al. Aging Dis. .

Abstract

The interrelation of the processes of immunity and senescence now receives an unprecedented emphasis during the COVID-19 pandemic, which brings to the fore the critical need to combat immunosenescence and improve the immune function and resilience of older persons. Here we review the historical origins and the current state of the science of innate and adaptive immunity in aging and longevity. From the modern point of view, innate and adaptive immunity are not only affected by aging but also are important parts of its underlying mechanisms. Excessive levels or activity of antimicrobial peptides, C-reactive protein, complement system, TLR/NF-κB, cGAS/STING/IFN 1,3 and AGEs/RAGE pathways, myeloid cells and NLRP3 inflammasome, declined levels of NK cells in innate immunity, thymus involution and decreased amount of naive T-cells in adaptive immunity, are biomarkers of aging and predisposition factors for cellular senescence and aging-related pathologies. Long-living species, human centenarians, and women are characterized by less inflamm-aging and decelerated immunosenescence. Despite recent progress in understanding, the harmonious theory of immunosenescence is still developing. Geroprotectors targeting these mechanisms are just emerging and are comprehensively discussed in this article.

Keywords: adaptive immunity; aging; innate immunity; longevity; resilience.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Gut dysbiosis/permeability with aging can induce TLR in microglia and exerts mitochondrial dysfunction.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
AGEs/RAGE pathway and age-related diseases.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
SASP involvement in aging-related pathologies.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
The role of adiposity in inflammation.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Physiological stress factors can induce NF-kB pathway.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Thymus involution and inflamm-aging.
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
Changes occurring during aging (reproduced with permission from [56]).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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