October - December 2014, Volume 10, Issue 4

Prada GI

Immunosenescence and Inflamm-Ageing

Acta Endo (Buc) 2014, 10 (4): 537-544
doi: 10.4183/aeb.2014.537

Researches on ageing phenomenon offer significant information regarding the consequences of stressors on immune system that affects longevity in the elderly. Immunosenescence has become the most common immunodeficiency state in humans, occurring in over 30% of community - dwelling elderly, and greater than 90% of elderly who are ill, taking medication, or residing in longterm care facilities. Immunosenescence may reflect tandem changes in neuroendocrine responses. There are several agingrelated changes in cortisol, DHEA and catecholamines, which are considered to set up a “vicious cycle of endocrinosenescence and immuno-senescence”. The low-level, chronic increase in innate, inflammatory response observed in older adults ultimately results in tissue damage and disease; the key inflammatory mediators in this process are CRP, nuclear factor (NF)-kB, IL-1-beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase. Further, glucocorticoid inhibition of IL-6 production was observed to be lower in older compared to younger men following psychological stress. There are individual differences that protect aged people from stressors and strains, and it will be important to identify biological mechanisms of protection and those at risk who might benefit from early behavioral interventions.

Keywords: aging, neuroendocrine, immunosenescence, endocrinosenescence, inflamm-ageing, pineal, stress.

Correspondence: Gabriel Ioan Prada MD PhD, “Ana Aslan” National Institute of Gerontology and Geriatrics - Clinical Department, Str. Caldarusani, No.9, Sector 1, Bucharest, 011241, Romania, E-mail: giprada@gmail.com