Department of Molecular Biology and Immunology, University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA.
Curr Opin Immunol. 2013 Aug;25(4):498-503. doi: 10.1016/j.coi.2013.05.018. Epub 2013 Jun 25.
The major function of the immune system is to provide protection against pathogens, in order to prevent infections and potential death. However, with increasing age the immune system undergoes alterations culminating in a progressive deterioration in the ability to respond to infection and vaccination. The precise mechanisms associated with immunosenescence have not been fully elucidated although extensive analyses have suggested that intrinsic defects within immune cells are potentially involved. Despite the stromal niche playing a critical role in the development and activation of immune cells, the role of extrinsic factors within the microenvironment in immunosenescence is less well understood. Moreover, emerging evidence suggests that the aged microenvironment contributes significantly to the age-associated decline of immune function and additionally may offer a potential target for rejuvenating the immune system. Indeed, rejuvenation strategies which have targeted the thymic stromal microenvironment have proved to be successful in recovering thymic function in the aged.
免疫系统的主要功能是提供针对病原体的保护，以预防感染和潜在的死亡。然而，随着年龄的增长，免疫系统会发生变化，导致其应对感染和疫苗接种的能力逐渐恶化。尽管广泛的分析表明，免疫细胞内的固有缺陷可能与之相关，但与免疫衰老相关的确切机制尚未完全阐明。尽管基质龛在免疫细胞的发育和激活中起着关键作用，但微环境中外在因素在免疫衰老中的作用还不太清楚。此外，新出现的证据表明，衰老的微环境对与年龄相关的免疫功能下降有重要贡献，并且可能为恢复免疫系统提供一个潜在的目标。事实上，针对胸腺基质微环境的恢复策略已被证明在恢复老年的胸腺功能方面是成功的。
