title: Effects of aging on the immune system.
abstract: Most cell-mediated and humoral immune responses decline with advancing age. Both the T- and B-cell compartments show deficiencies in activation, transit through the cell cycle, and subsequent differentiation. The T-cell compartment, notably the CD4 subset, which includes helper cells, is most affected by thymic involution. The mucosal immune system is relatively unaffected.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Research Institute of Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, Calif.
authors.forename: W O
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Weigle
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D008222:Lymphokines