Abstract
Aging is accompanied by an impairment of the physiological systems, including the immune system. The age-related changes of immune functions, which are denominated immunosenescence, are the cause of the increased vulnerability to infections and inflammatory diseases of aged animals. Since the functional capacity of the immune cells has been proposed as a marker of health, our group, using mice with premature senescence, long-lived mice and human centenarians, has ascertained that several immune functions are good markers of biological age and predictors of longevity. Moreover, in agreement with the most widely accepted theory of aging, namely the oxidation theory, we have observed that upon aging the immune cells show increased oxidant and inflammatory compounds and decreased antioxidant and anti-inflammatory defenses. This chronic oxidative and inflammatory stress, has among its intracellular mechanisms the activation of the NF-κB in the immune cells. Based on these data, we have proposed the theory of oxidation-inflammation as the cause of aging. Accordingly, the chronic oxidative stress that appears with aging affects all cells and especially those of the regulatory systems, such as the nervous, endocrine and immune systems and the communication between them. This prevents an adequate homeostasis and, therefore, the preservation of health. Moreover, we have proposed a key involvement of the immune system in the aging process of the organism, specifically in the rate of aging. Since macrophages are cells of the innate immunity present in all animals, and they produce the highest levels of oxidant and pro-inflammatory compounds in aged individuals, the role of the immune system in aging could be of universal application. A confirmation of the role of the immune system in aging is the fact that several life style strategies, such as the administration of adequate amount of antioxidants improve the immune cell functions, decreasing their oxidative stress, and consequently increase the longevity of the subjects.
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