title: Dysregulation of human Toll-like receptor function in aging.
abstract: Studies addressing immunosenescence in the immune system have expanded to focus on the innate as well as the adaptive responses. In particular, aging results in alterations in the function of Toll-like receptors (TLRs), the first described pattern recognition receptor family of the innate immune system. Recent studies have begun to elucidate the consequences of aging on TLR function in human cohorts and add to existing findings performed in animal models. In general, these studies show that human TLR function is impaired in the context of aging, and in addition there is evidence for inappropriate persistence of TLR activation in specific systems. These findings are consistent with an overarching theme of age-associated dysregulation of TLR signaling that likely contributes to the increased morbidity and mortality from infectious diseases found in geriatric patients.
authors.affiliation: Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA. albert.shaw@yale.edu
authors.forename: Albert C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Panda
authors.forename: Samit R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Heather G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Allore
authors.forename: Ruth R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Montgomery
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000502:physiology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D051193:Toll-Like Receptors