title: The immune system in aging: roles of cytokines, T cells and NK cells.
abstract: Aging is characterized by a proinflammatory state that contributes to the onset of disability and age-related diseases. Proinflammatory cytokines play a central role in mediating cellular and physiological responses. The levels of these cytokines may reflect immune system effectiveness. Studies of the effects of aging on inflammatory response show interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) to be important. In this review, age-related changes in inflammatory cytokines, T and NK cells, and the biology of IL-6 and TNF-alpha and their relevance to senescence are considered.
authors.affiliation: Center for Demographic Studies, Duke University, 2117 Campus Drive Box 90408, Durham, NC 27708, USA. hhai@cds.duke.edu <hhai@cds.duke.edu>
authors.forename: Hai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Dhavalkumar D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Kenneth G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Manton
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000737:chemistry; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System; D007249:Inflammation; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000502:physiology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology*; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha