Swain Susan L, Nikolich-Zugich Janko
Trudeau Institute, 154 Algonquin Avenue, Saranac Lake, NY 12983, USA.
J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2009 Feb;64(2):183-6. doi: 10.1093/gerona/gln068. Epub 2009 Feb 27.
A number of key advantages make the immune system uniquely suited for studies of aging. The understanding of loss of immune function with aging has advanced to allow incisive evaluations of general theories of aging. Specifically, the time is ripe for examination of mechanisms leading to age-associated molecular and cellular defects in the immune system and testing of strategies to reverse identified defects. These and other opportunities are discussed in the following, with special focus upon aging of the innate immune system, the role of commensal bacteria and inflammation in immune aging, and the need for better and more precise models in mice and primates to facilitate these studies and provide translation toward clinical application of immune rejuvenation.
诸多关键优势使免疫系统特别适合用于衰老研究。随着对衰老过程中免疫功能丧失的理解不断深入，现已能够对衰老的一般理论进行精准评估。具体而言，审视导致免疫系统中与年龄相关的分子和细胞缺陷的机制，以及测试逆转已确定缺陷的策略的时机已经成熟。以下将讨论这些及其他机遇，特别关注固有免疫系统的衰老、共生细菌和炎症在免疫衰老中的作用，以及在小鼠和灵长类动物中建立更好、更精确模型的必要性，以促进这些研究并推动免疫年轻化的临床应用转化。
