Innate immunity in aging: impact on macrophage function.
Innate and adaptive immune functions decline with age, leading to increased susceptibility to infectious diseases and cancer, and reduced responses to preventive vaccination in the elderly population. Macrophages function as 'pathogen sensors' and play an important role in the initiation of inflammatory responses, elimination of pathogens, manipulation of the adaptive immune response and reparation of damaged tissue. In this paper, we review the literature addressing the impact of aging on the macrophage population.
Influenza Branch, Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
Julie
J
Plowden
Mary
M
Renshaw-Hoelscher
Carrie
C
Engleman
Jacqueline
J
Katz
Suryaprakash
S
Sambhara
D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000502:physiology; D018925:Chemokines / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000502:physiology*; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000502:physiology; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000502:physiology; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D018925:Chemokines; D016207:Cytokines; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors