Immune memory and aging: an infinite or finite resource?
Recent developments in the field of immune memory research and the accumulating literature on age-related alterations in homeostasis, primary and memory T cell responses make it pertinent to address whether and how memory responses are affected by aging with regard to their generation, maintenance, and protective function. New knowledge of T cell repertoire maintenance over long periods of time, particularly when confronted with persistent pathogen challenge, is now enriched further by studies on whether recent immunological memory can 'overfill' and/or constrict prior memory responses. Along with studies on potentiation of memory responses by dietary/metabolic interventions and the recent advances on regulation of primary responses with aging, these findings provide a platform for new approaches to vaccination of older adults.
Nikolich-Zugich
Janko
J
Department of Immunobiology and the Arizona Center on Aging, University of Arizona College of Medicine, 1656 E Mabel St., Tucson, AZ 85719, USA. nikolich@email.arizona.edu
Rudd
Brian D
BD
D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology