title: [Immunology of aging].
abstract: The immune system shows its best reactivity in the youth. Then there is a continuous slightly decrease of the reactivity. This is not caused by a loss of lymphocytes or antibody but by a shift within the distribution of regulatory cells. Therefore the portion of aberrant phenomena is increasing during lifetime. However, even in old age the immune system is still working. A concomitant increase of infections is due to the impaired resistance of anatomical structures, e.g. of the mucosa.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D000917:Antibody Formation; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007121:Immunocompetence; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
vernacular_title: Immunologie des Alters.