Abstract

Rapid growth of the geriatric population has been made possible with advancements in pharmaceutical and health sciences. Hence, age-associated diseases are becoming more common. Aging encompasses deterioration of the immune system, known as immunosenescence. Dysregulation of the immune cell production, differentiation, and functioning lead to a chronic subclinical inflammatory state termed inflammaging. The hallmarks of the aging immune system are decreased naïve cells, increased memory cells, and increased serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation is a promising solution to halt immunosenescence as the cells have excellent immunomodulatory functions and low immunogenicity. This review compiles the present knowledge of the causes and changes of the aging immune system and the potential of MSC transplantation as a regenerative therapy for immunosenescence.

Highlights

  • Frailty can be defined as a decline in physiological reserve across organ systems; it afflicts geriatric subjects above the age of 65

  • This review aims to discuss the recent papers on the pathophysiology of immune system aging and the potential of Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy to combat immunosenescence

  • Cheng et al.’s study in human and mouse brains found that there was a loss of acetylated-H3K27 during aging, along with the increase of enzyme histone deacetylase-2 (HDAC-2) activity, which contributed to cognitive decline

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Summary

Introduction

Frailty can be defined as a decline in physiological reserve across organ systems; it afflicts geriatric subjects above the age of 65. The autoimmunity in older adults is associated with the high levels of circulating T-regulatory cells (Treg) and reduced CD4/CD8 ratio This predisposes the aging host to infection and cancer [7]. The older adult population is accompanied by a state of physiological vulnerability and declining ability to maintain homeostasis and respond to stress. This clinical expression of age-related decline is known as frailty. The functions and structures of MSCs, which are significant in maintaining the immune system, diminishes [31] They are multipotent, mesenchymal progenitors exist in a small population, only consisting of 0.001% to 0.01% bone marrow mononuclear cells. This review aims to discuss the recent papers on the pathophysiology of immune system aging and the potential of MSC therapy to combat immunosenescence

Causes and Consequence of Immunosenescence
Oxidative Stress
Mitochondrial ROS
Telomere Attrition
Thymic Involution
Impaired Autophagy
Epigenetic Alteration
Genomic Instability
Cellular Senescence
Age-Associated Changes in the Innate Immune System
Neutrophils
Age-Associated Changes in the Adaptive Immune System
T Cells
B Cells
Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy to Reverse Aging Effects on the Immune System
Translational Application of MSCs
Limitations and Prospects
Findings
Conclusions
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