title: Premature B-cell senescence as a consequence of chronic immune activation.
abstract: Similar features between the immune system of healthy elderly people and of younger individuals subjected to conditions of chronic immune activation are progressively being observed. This is raising the hypothesis that chronic immune activation may cause the premature aging of the immune system. Here we dissect this theory by comparing changes occurring to B-cells during healthy aging to the ones occurring during chronic immune activation in younger individuals. Moreover, we discuss how these changes may affect or predict response to vaccination in immune compromised individuals.
authors.affiliation: a University Department of Pediatrics; DPUO; Unit of Immune and Infectious Diseases; Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital; Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Palma
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rinaldi
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cotugno
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Santilli
authors.forename: Savita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pahwa
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cagigi
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*
keywords: activation-induced deaminase (AID); aging; double negative B-cells; immunization; immunosenescence; inflammaging; mature-activated B-cells; predictive biomarkers