How aging compromises antiviral defenses: a role for imbalanced innate cytokine production.
Aging causes enhanced susceptibility to viral infections. Stout-Delgado et al. (2009) report increased IL-17A production but reduced type I interferon levels in old mice infected by herpes viruses. This imbalance between proinflammatory and antiviral innate cytokine responses causes immunopathology and compromises virus control, which together lead to death by liver failure.
Guiton
Rachel
R
Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Université de la Méditerranée, 13288 Marseille, France. guiton@ciml.univ-mrs.fr
Dalod
Marc
M