About this Research Topic

Background

Immunosenescence commonly refers to all the changes that occur to the immune system during aging leading to its dysfunction. However, immunosenescence is not only caused by age-associated alterations: the chronic activation of the immune system due to infections, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, or cancer also influences the exhaustion of the immune system, in a process called “premature” immunosenescence. Furthermore, the immunomodulatory drugs and therapies used to treat these diseases could accelerate immune exhaustion.

On the other hand, there is convincing evidence that immunosenescence increases the risk of developing autoimmune and immune-mediated diseases, especially during aging. Therefore, the tight interconnection between such diseases and the immune system functioning becomes clear.

Even if many works have shown a link between immunosenescence and autoimmune and immune-mediated diseases, the mechanisms leading to these processes remain largely unknown. The main goal of this Research Topic is to advance the knowledge about immunosenescence, why it advances prematurely in people with diseases such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, or malignant tumors and how we could try to overcome its negative consequences. Moreover, thanks to social and medical developments, life expectancy has notably increased – also in people with immune system problems. Therefore, this Research Topic aims to encourage works that investigate age-associated processes that affect immunosenescence. Studies on genetic/epigenetic modifications, altered features of both innate and adaptive immune cells, as well as about soluble mediators that could affect immunosenescence are needed. The influence of microbiota and environmental factors such as Vitamin D on the aging of the immune system also need to be considered.

We welcome scientists in the field to submit their original research, brief research report, commentary, review, systematic review, or mini review articles that cover (but are not limited to) the following aspects:
• Recent advances in the molecular mechanisms of immunosenescence.
• The role of different components of the immune system in immunosenescence.
• Evidence of premature immune exhaustion in autoimmune and immune-mediated diseases.
• How immunosenescence increases the risk of developing autoimmune and immune-mediated diseases.
• How the regulation of the immune system is affected by age.
• The challenges in the development of therapies for aged patients with autoimmune or immune-mediated diseases.
• Review articles that summarize the relevant literature on the relation between the exacerbated immune system activation and immunosenescence.

Keywords: Immunosenescence, Premature immune exhaustion, Autoimmune diseases, Immune-mediated diseases, Aging

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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