title: Immune senescence: significance of the stromal microenvironment.
abstract: The immune system undergoes age-associated changes known as immunosenescence, resulting in increased susceptibility to infections, cancers and autoimmunity in the aged. The basis of our understanding of immunosenescence has been derived primarily from studies examining intrinsic defects within many of the cells of the immune system. While these studies have provided insight into the mechanisms of immunosenescence, a picture is now emerging that the stromal microenvironment within lymphoid organs also contributes significantly to the age-associated decline of immune function. These extrinsic defects appear to impact the functional activity of immune cells and may offer a potential target to recover immune activity. Indeed, rejuvenation studies which have targeted the stromal niche have restored immune function in aged successfully, highlighting the impact of the microenvironment towards the aetiology of immunosenescence.
authors.affiliation: UConn Center on Aging, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA.|Department of Immunology, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Masters
authors.affiliation: UConn Center on Aging, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA.|Department of Immunology, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Haynes
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Immunology, University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, Fort Worth, TX, USA.
authors.forename: D-M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, UK.
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Palmer
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D060833:Cellular Microenvironment / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System; D000068884:Immunosenescence; D012038:Regeneration / Q000276:immunology; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000276:immunology*
keywords: aging; cell differentiation; spleen and lymph nodes; stromal cells; thymus