Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Immunity, Inflammation and infections during aging

  • Chapter
Prevention and Treatment of Age-related Diseases

  • 1050 Accesses

Abstract

The major changes occurring life long in the human immune system are here described. The progressive inflammatory status which is established during aging together with the progressive susceptibility to infectious diseases are discussed in the frame of the genetic variant influence. Finally, the possibility to counteract the susceptibility to infections by coping with or slowing down immunosenescence, using different molecules or strategies, is argued

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Andrew, D. and Aspinall, R. (2001) Il-7 and not stem cell factor reverses both the increase in apoptosis and the decline in thymopoiesis seen in aged mice. J. Immunol., Feb 1;166(3): 1524–30.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Armstrong, B.G., Mangtani, P., Fletcher, A., Kovats, S., McMichael, A., Pattenden, S. and Wilkinson, P. (2004) Effect of influenza vaccination on excess deaths occurring during periods of high circulation of influenza: cohort study in elderly people. BMJ, Sep 18;329(7467): 660.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernstein, D.I., Schleiss, M.R., Berencsi, K., Gonczol, E., Dickey, M., Khoury, P., Cadoz, M., Meric, C., Zahradnik, J., Duliege, A.M. and Plotkin, S. (2002) Effect of previous or simultaneous immunization with canarypox expressing cytomegalovirus (CMV) glycoprotein B (gB) on response to subunit gB vaccine plus MF59 in healthy CMV-seronegative adults. J. Infect. Dis., Mar 1;185(5): 686–90.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Berzins, S.P., Uldrich, A.P., Sutherland, J.S., Gill, J., Miller, J.F., Godfrey, D.I. and Boyd, R.L. (2002) Thymic regeneration: teaching an old immune system new tricks. Trends Mol. Med., Oct;8(10): 469–76.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bruunsgaard, H., Ladelund, S., Pedersen, A.N., Schroll, M., Jorgensen, T. and Pedersen, B.K. (2003a) Predicting death from tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 in 80-year-old people. Clin. Exp. Immunol. 132: 24–31.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bruunsgaard, H., Andersen-Ranberg, K., Hjelmborg, J.B., Pedersen, B.K. and Jeune, B. (2003b) Elevated levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha and mortality in centenarians. Am. J. Med., 115: 278–83.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carrieri, G., Marzi, E., Olivieri, F., Marchegiani, F., Cavallone, L., Cardelli, M., Giovagnetti, S., Stecconi, R., Molendini, C., Trapassi, C., De Benedictis, G., Kletsas, D. and Franceschi, C. (2004) The G/C915 polymorphism of transforming growth factor beta1 is associated with human longevity: a study in Italian centenarians. Aging Cell. 3: 443–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Caruso, C., Candore, G., Colonna Romano, G., Lio, D., Bonafé, M., Valensin, S. and Franceschi, C. (2000) HLA, aging, and longevity: a critical reappraisal. Hum. Immunol., Sep;61(9): 942–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Caruso, C., Candore, G., Romano, G.C., Lio, D., Bonafé, M., Valensin, S. and Franceschi, C. (2001) Immunogenetics of longevity. Is major histocompatibility complex polymorphism relevant to the control of human longevity? A review of literature data. Mech. Aging Dev., Apr 30;122(5): 445–62.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Castle, S.C. (2000) Clinical relevance of age-related immune dysfunction. Clin. Infect. Dis., Aug;31(2): 578–85.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cipriano, C., Caruso, C., Lio, D., Giacconi, R., Malavolta, M., Muti, E., Gasparini, N., Franceschi, C. and Mocchegiani, E. (2005) The -308G/A polymorphism of TNF-alpha influences immunological parameters in old subjects affected by infectious diseases. Int. J. Immunogenet., Feb;32(1): 13–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cossarizza, C., Ortolani, R., Paganelli, D., Barbieri, D., Monti, P., Sansoni, U., Fagiolo, G., Castellani, F., Bersani, M., Londei and Franceschi, C. (1996) CD45 isoforms expression on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells throughout life, from newborns to centenarians: implications for T cell memory. Mech. Aging Dev., 86(3): 173–195.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Martinis, M., Franceschi, C., Monti, D. and Ginaldi, L. (2005) Inflamm-aging and life long antigenic load as major determinants of aging rate and longevity. FEBS Lett., Apr 11;579(10): 2035–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Effros, R.B. (2004) T cell replicative senescence: pleiotropic effects on human aging. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., 1019: 123–126.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fagnoni, F.F., Vescovini, R., Mazzola, M., Bologna, G., Nigro, E., Lavagetto, G., Franceschi, C., Passeri, M. and Sansoni, P. (1996) Expansion of cytotoxic CD8+ CD28- T cells in healthy aging people, including centenarians. Immunology, 88(4): 501–507.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fagnoni, F.F., Vescovini, R., Passeri, G., Bologna, G., Pedrazzoni, M., Lavagetto, G., Casti, A., Franceschi, C., Passeri, M. and Sansoni, P. (2000) Shortage of circulating naive CD8(+) T cells provides new insights on immunodeficiency in aging. Blood, 95(9): 2860–2868.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrucci, L., Penninx, B.W., Volpato, S., Harris, T.B., Bandeen-Roche, K., Balfour, J., Leveille, S.G., Fried, L.P. and Md, J.M. (2002) Change in muscle strength explains accelerated decline of physical function in older women with high interleukin-6 serum levels. J. Am. Geriatr. Soc., Dec;50(12): 1947–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Franceschi, C. and Cossarizza, A. (1995) Introduction: the reshaping of the immune system with age. Int. Rev. Immunol., 12: 1–4.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Franceschi, C., Monti, D., Sansoni, P. and Cossarizza, A. (1995) The immunology of exceptional individuals: the lesson of centenarians. Immunol. Today, 16: 12–16.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Franceschi, C., Bonafé, M. and Valensin, S. (2000a) Human immunosenescence: the prevailing of innate immunity, the failing of clonotypic immunity, and the filling of immunological space. Vaccine, 18: 1717–1720.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Franceschi, C., Valensin, S., Bonafé, M., Paolisso, G., Yashin, A.I., Monti, D. and De Benedictis, G. (2000b) The network and the remodeling theories of aging: historical background and new perspectives. Exp. Gerontol., 35: 879–896.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Franceschi, C., Bonafé, M., Valensin, S., Olivieri, F., De Luca, M., Ottavini, E. and De Benedictis, G. (2000c) Inflamm-aging. An evolutionary perspective on immunosenescence. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., 908: 244–54.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Franceschi, C., Bonafé, M., Valensin, S., Olivieri, F., De Luca, M., Ottaviani, E. and De Benedictis, G. Inflamm-aging. (2000d) An evolutionary perspective on immunosenescence. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., 908: 244–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Franceschi, C., Valensin, S., Lescai, F., Olivieri, F., Licastro, F., Grimaldi, L.M., Monti, D., De Benedictis, G. and Bonafé, M. (2001) Neuroinflammation and the genetics of Alzheimer’s disease: the search for a pro-inflammatory phenotype. Aging, Jun;13(3): 163–70.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Franceschi, C. and Bonafé, M. (2003) Centenarians as a model for healthy aging. Biochem. Soc. Trans., 31, 457–461.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Franceschi, C., Olivieri, F., Marchegiani, F., Cardelli, M., Cavallone, L., Capri, M., Salvioli, S., Valensin, S., De Benedictis, G., Di Iorio, A., Caruso, C., Paolisso, G. and Monti, D. (2005) Genes involved in immune response/inflammation, IGF1/insulin pathway and response to oxidative stress play a major role in the genetics of human longevity: the lesson of centenarians. Mech. Aging Dev., Feb;126(2): 351–61.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gangemi, S., Basile, G., Merendino, R.A., Minciullo, P.L., Novick, D., Rubinstein, M., Dinarello, C.A., Lo Balbo, C., Franceschi, C., Basili, S., D’Urbano, E., Davi, G., Nicita-Mauro, V. and Romano, M. (2003) Increased circulating Interleukin-18 levels in centenarians with no signs of vascular disease: another paradox of longevity? Exp. Gerontol., Jun;38(6): 669–72.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gavazzi, G. and Krause, K.H. (2002) Aging and infection. Lancet Infect. Dis., Nov;2(11): 659–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ginaldi, L., De Martinis, M., Monti, D. and Franceschi, C. (2005) Chronic antigenic load and apoptosis in immunosenescence. Trends Immunol., 26(2): 79–84.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Laube, S. (2004) Skin infections and aging. Aging Res. Rev., Jan;3(1): 69–89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lio, D., Scola, L., Crivello, A., Bonafé, M., Franceschi, C., Olivieri, F., Colonna-Romano, G., Candore, G. and Caruso, C. (2002a) Allele frequencies of +874T–>A single nucleotide polymorphism at the first intron of interferon-gamma gene in a group of Italian centenarians. Exp. Gerontol., Jan–Mar;37(2–3): 315–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lio, D., Scola, L., Crivello, A., Colonna-Romano, G., Candore, G., Bonafé, M., Cavallone, L., Franceschi, C. and Caruso, C. (2002b) Gender-specific association between -1082 IL-10 promoter polymorphism and longevity. Genes Immun., 3: 30–3.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lio, D., Licastro, F., Scola, L., Chiappelli, M., Grimaldi, L.M., Crivello, A., Colonna-Romano, G., Candore, G., Franceschi, C. and Caruso, C. (2003) Interleukin-10 promoter polymorphism in sporadic Alzheimer’s disease. Genes Immun., 4: 234–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lio, D., Candore, G., Crivello, A., Scola, L., Colonna-Romano, G., Cavallone, L., Hoffmann, E., Caruso, M., Licastro, F., Caldarera, C.M., Branzi, A., Franceschi, C. and Caruso, C. (2004) Opposite effects of interleukin 10 common gene polymorphisms in cardiovascular diseases and in successful aging: genetic background of male centenarians is protective against coronary heart disease. J. Med. Genet., Oct;41(10): 790–4.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mariani, E., Ravaglia, G., Forti, P., Meneghetti, A., Tarozzi, A., Maioli, F., Boschi, F., Fratelli, L., Pizzoferrato, A., Piras, F. and Facchini, A. (1999) Vitamin D, thyroid hormones and muscle mass influence natural killer (NK) innate immunity in healthy nonagenarians and centenarians. Clin. Exp. Immunol., Apr;116(1): 19–27.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mariani, E., Meneghetti, A., Neri, S., Ravaglia, G., Forti, P., Cattini, L. and Facchini, A. (2002) Chemokine production by natural killer cells from nonagenarians. Eur. J. Immunol., Jun;32(6): 1524–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mariani, E., Pulsatelli, L., Neri, S., Dolzani, P., Meneghetti, A., Silvestri, T., Ravaglia, G., Forti, P., Cattini, L. and Facchini, A. (2002) RANTES and MIP-1alpha production by T lymphocytes, monocytes and NK cells from nonagenarian subjects. Exp. Gerontol., 37: 219–226.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mariotti, S., Sansoni, P., Barbesino, G., Caturegli, P., Monti, D., Cossarizza, A., Giacomelli, T., Passeri, G., Fagiolo, U., Pinchera, A. and Franceschi, C. (1992) Thyroid and other organ-specific autoantibodies in healthy centenarians. Lancet, 339(8808): 1506–1508.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, K.C. (2004) Lung infections and aging. Aging Res. Rev., Jan;3(1): 55–67.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mishto, M., Santoro, A., Bellavista, E., Bonafé, M., Monti, D. and Franceschi, C. (2003) Immunoproteasomes and immunosenescence. Aging Res. Rev., Oct;2(4): 419–32.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miyaji, C., Watanabe, H., Toma, H., Akisaka, M., Tomiyama, K., Sato, Y. and Abo, T. (2000) Functional alteration of granulocytes, NK cells, and natural killer T cells in centenarians. Hum. Immunol., Sep;61(9): 908–16.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mocchegiani, E., Muzzioli, M. and Giacconi, R. (2000) Zinc and immunoresistance to infection in aging: new biological tools. Trends Pharmacol. Sci., Jun;21(6): 205–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nasi, M., Troiano, L., Lugli, E., Pinti, M., Ferraresi, R., Monterastelli, E., Mussi, C., Salvioli, G., Franceschi, C. and Cossarizza, A. (2006) Thymic output and functionality of IL-7/IL-7 receptor system in centenarians: implications for the neolymphogenesis at the extreme limit of human life Aging Cell, 5: 167–175.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Naumova, E., Mihaylova, A., Ivanova, M., Michailova, S., Penkova, K. and Baltadjieva, D. (2003) Immunological markers contributing to successful aging in Bulgarians. Exp. Gerontol., 39: 637–644.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Olivieri, F., Bonafé, M., Cavallone, L., Giovagnetti, S., Marchegiani, F., Cardelli, M., Mugianesi, E., Giampieri, C., Moresi, R., Stecconi, R., Lisa, R. and Franceschi, C. (2002) -174 C/G locus affects in vitro/vivo IL-6 production during aging. Exp. Gerontol., 37, 309–314.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Paganelli, R., Quinti, I., Fagiolo, U., Cossarizza, A., Ortolani, C., Guerra, E., Sansoni, P., Pucillo, L.P., Scala, E., Cozzi, E., et al. (1992) Changes in circulating B cells and immunoglobulin classes and subclasses in a healthy aged population. Clin. Exp. Immunol., Nov;90(2): 351–4.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Paolisso, G., Barbieri, M., Bonafé, M. and Franceschi, C. (2000) Metabolic age modelling: the lesson from centenarians. Eur. J. Clin. Invest., 30: 888–894.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pawelec, G., Adibzadeh, M., Pohla, H. and Schaudt, K. (1995) Immunosenescence: aging of the immune system. Immunol. Today, Sep;16(9): 420–2.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pawelec, G., Akbar, A., Caruso, C., Effros, R., Grubeck-Loebenstein, B. and Wikby, A. (2004) Is immunosenescence infectious? Trends Immunol., 25(8): 406–410.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pennesi, G., Morellini, M., Lulli, P., Cappellacci, S., Brioli, G., Franceschi, C. and Trabace, S. (2001) TCR VB repertoire in an italian longeval population including centenarians. J. Amer. Aging Assoc., 24: 63–70.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rea, I.M., Ross, O.A., Armstrong, M., McNerlan, S., Alexander, D.H., Curran, M.D. and Middleton, D. (2003) Interleukin-6-gene C/G 174 polymorphism in nonagenarian and octogenarian subjects in the BELFAST study. Reciprocal effects on IL-6, soluble IL-6 receptor and for IL-10 in serum and monocyte supernatants. Mech. Aging Develop., 124(4): 555–561.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rink, L. and Kirchner, H. (2000) Zinc-altered immune function and cytokine production. J. Nutr., May; 130(5S Suppl): 1407S–11S.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ross, O.A., Curran, M.D., Meenagh, A., Williams, F., Barnett, Y.A., Middleton, D. and Rea, I.M. (2003) Study of age-association with cytokine gene polymorphisms in an aged Irish population. Mech. Aging Develop., 124(2): 199–206.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sadeghi, H.M., Schnelle, J.F., Thoma, J.K., Nishanian, P. and Fahey, J.L. (1999) Phenotypic and functional characteristics of circulating monocytes of elderly persons. Exp. Gerontol., 3D: 959–970.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sansoni, P., Cossarizza, A., Brianti, V., Fagnoni, F., Snelli, G., Monti, D., Marcato, A., Passeri, G., Ortolani, C., Forti, E., Fagiolo, U., Passeri, M. and Franceschi, C. (1993) Lymphocyte subsets and natural killer cell activity in healthy old people and centenarians. Blood, Nov., 1;82(9): 2767–73.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Topp, M.S., Riddell, S.R., Akatsuka, Y., Jensen, M.C., Blattman, J.N. and Greenberg, P.D. (2003) Restoration of CD28 expression in CD28- CD8+ memory effector T cells reconstitutes antigen-induced IL-2 production. J. Exp. Med., Sep 15;198(6): 947–55.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vescovini, R., Telera, A., Fagnoni, F.F., Biasimi, C., Medici, M.C., Valcavi, P., Di Pede, P., Lucchini, G., Zanlari, L., Passeri, G., Zanni, F., Chezzi, C., Franceschi, C. and Sansoni, P. (2004) Different contribution of EBV and CMV infections in very long-term carriers to age-related alterations of CD8(+) T cells. Exp. Gerontol., 39(8): 1233–1243.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wack, A., Cossarizza, A., Heltai, S., Barbieri, D., D’Addato, S., Franceschi, C., Dellabona, P. and Castrati, G. (1998) Age-related modifications of the human alphabeta T cell repertoire due to different clonal expansions in the CD4+ and CD8+ subsets. Int. Immunol., 10(9): 1281–1288.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zanni, F., Vescovini, R., Biasini, C., Fagnoni, F., Zanlari, L., Telera, A., Di Pede, P., Passeri, G., Pedrazzoni, M., Passeri, M., Franceschi, C. and Sansoni, P. (2003) Marked increase with age of type 1 cytokines within memory and effector/cytotoxic CD8+ T cells in humans: a contribution to understand the relationship between inflammation and immunosenescence. Exp. Gerontol., Sep;38(9): 981–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Experimental Pathology, University of Bologna, Via S.Giacomo, 12

    Miriam Capri, Stefano Salvioli, Federica Sevini, Elisa Cevenini, Michela Pierini, Laura Celani, Rita Ostan, Maria Scurti, Daniela Mazza & Claudio Franceschi

  2. CIG, Interdepartmental Center Galvani, Via S. Giacomo, 12, University of Bologna

    Miriam Capri, Stefano Salvioli, Federica Sevini, Elisa Cevenini, Michela Pierini, Laura Celani, Maria Scurti, Daniela Mazza & Claudio Franceschi

  3. Department of Experimental Oncology and Pathology, Via Morgagni, 50, University of Firenze

    Laura Bucci & Daniela Monti

  4. INRCA, National Institute for Research on Aging, Via Birarelli 8, Ancona, Italy

    Claudio Franceschi

Authors
  1. Miriam Capri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Stefano Salvioli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Federica Sevini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Elisa Cevenini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Michela Pierini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Laura Celani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Laura Bucci
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Rita Ostan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Maria Scurti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Daniela Mazza
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Daniela Monti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Claudio Franceschi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Danish Centre for Molecular Gerontology, University of Aarhus, Denmark

    Suresh I.S. Rattan

  2. University Hospital of Odense, Denmark

    Moustapha Kassem

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2006 Springer

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Capri, M. et al. (2006). Immunity, Inflammation and infections during aging. In: Rattan, S.I., Kassem, M. (eds) Prevention and Treatment of Age-related Diseases. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-5058-5_2

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation