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Aging and innate immune cells
Author(s) -
Plackett Timothy P.,
Boehmer Eric D.,
Faunce Douglas E.,
Kovacs Elizabeth J.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of leukocyte biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.819
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1938-3673
pISSN - 0741-5400
DOI - 10.1189/jlb.1103592
Subject(s) - biology , innate immune system , immune system , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , stimulation , innate lymphoid cell , cytokine , endocrinology
The innate immune system serves an important role in preventing microbial invasion. However, it experiences significant changes with advancing age. Among the age‐associated changes are: Aged macrophages and neutrophils have impaired respiratory burst and reactive nitrogen intermediates as a result of altered intracellular signaling, rendering them less able to destroy bacteria. Aged neutrophils are also less able to respond to rescue from apoptosis. Aged dendritic cells (DC) are less able to stimulate T and B cells. The altered T cell stimulation is a result of changes in human leukocyte antigen expression and cytokine production, and lower B cell stimulation is a result of changes in DC immune complex binding. Natural killer (NK) cells from the elderly are less capable of destroying tumor cells. NK T cells increase in number and have greater interleukin‐4 production with age. Levels of various complement components are also altered with advancing age.