AUTHOR=Cisneros Bulmaro , García-Aguirre Ian , Unzueta Juan , Arrieta-Cruz Isabel , González-Morales Oscar , Domínguez-Larrieta Juan M. , Tamez-González Aura , Leyva-Gómez Gerardo , Magaña Jonathan J. TITLE=Immune system modulation in aging: Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targets JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology VOLUME=13 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2022.1059173 DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2022.1059173 ISSN=1664-3224 ABSTRACT=

The function of the immune system declines during aging, compromising its response against pathogens, a phenomenon termed as “immunosenescence.” Alterations of the immune system undergone by aged individuals include thymic involution, defective memory T cells, impaired activation of naïve T cells, and weak memory response. Age-linked alterations of the innate immunity comprise perturbed chemotactic, phagocytic, and natural killing functions, as well as impaired antigen presentation. Overall, these alterations result in chronic low-grade inflammation (inflammaging) that negatively impacts health of elderly people. In this review, we address the most relevant molecules and mechanisms that regulate the relationship between immunosenescence and inflammaging and provide an updated description of the therapeutic strategies aimed to improve immunity in aged individuals.