Aging of immune system leads to immunosenescence (a process caused by age-related alterations in both adaptive and innate immune systems), accumulation of senescent cells, induction of senescent associated secretory phenotype and pro-inflammatory factors (e.g., cytokines and extracellular vesicles), and inflammaging (a chronic, sterile, low-grade inflammation). These age-related immune dysfunctions contribute to increased risk of infections, chronic diseases (e.g., osteoarthritis [OA]), cancer, neurodegeneration, and autoimmune diseases, and decreased resilience to stress in older adults. Furthermore, it is becoming increasingly clear that sexual dimorphism differently affects the health of individuals. So, it is critical to understand how biological (sex-based) and socioeconomic and cultural (gender-based) variations affect immune-inflammatory responses in older people.

Increased evidence supports the important role of immune system in aging and age-related diseases. As a paradigmatic example, aging has been associated with delays in bone healing in humans. The risk of OA increases with age, while OA increases age-related morbidity and mortality in older adults. Immune cells actively infiltrate OA synovial tissues and produce pro-inflammatory cytokines and extracellular vesicles into the joint tissue and synovial fluid to enhance inflammatory responses and tissue damage. Then, a large human cohort study (n=1507) recently reported observations in older adults, yielded from causal analyses, that lymphocytes were potentiators, whereas neutrophils were attenuators of longevity. Therefore, it is highly valuable to promote research on identifying age-related alternations and dysfunctions in the immune system, and the mechanisms by which age-mediated immune dysfunctions influence the development of diseases in older adults.

This research topic welcomes Original Research Articles and Review/Mini-review reporting observations and mechanisms related to immunity in aging and age-related diseases and dysfunctions, including but not limited to the following areas:
Immunity and biological age
Age-related pro-inflammatory status
Mechanisms of dysfunctions in the aged immune systems
Autoimmune response and aging
Infections and immunosenescence
Vaccination and immunosenescence
Interactions between immune system and tissue during aging
Role of the sex and gender in immunosenescence
The role of sex/gender in the pro-inflammatory status in ageing
Immunity-related mechanisms of anti-aging therapies

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Frontiers in Immunology

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