title: Host resistance and the immune system.
abstract: Elderly persons are more susceptible and vulnerable to many infections compared with young adults. This phenomenon can be attributed to a decline in host defense mechanisms, particularly altered immune function. The effects of aging on T- and B-lymphocyte function; antigen-presenting cells, natural killer cells, and granulocytes; and organ-specific host resistance are discussed in this article.
authors.affiliation: Hadassah University Medical Center, Jersualem, Israel.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ben-Yehuda
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Weksler
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology*; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D016867:Immunocompromised Host / Q000502:physiology*; D007239:Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology