Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Snijckers, Roy P M
• Foks, Amanda C

Titel

Adaptive immunity and atherosclerosis: aging at its crossroads

Ist Teil von

• Frontiers in immunology, 2024-04, Vol.15, p.1350471-1350471

Ort / Verlag

Switzerland: Frontiers Media S.A

Erscheinungsjahr

2024

Quelle

MEDLINE

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Adaptive immunity plays a profound role in atherosclerosis pathogenesis by regulating antigen-specific responses, inflammatory signaling and antibody production. However, as we age, our immune system undergoes a gradual functional decline, a phenomenon termed "immunosenescence". This decline is characterized by a reduction in proliferative naïve B- and T cells, decreased B- and T cell receptor repertoire and a pro-inflammatory senescence associated secretory profile. Furthermore, aging affects germinal center responses and deteriorates secondary lymphoid organ function and structure, leading to impaired T-B cell dynamics and increased autoantibody production. In this review, we will dissect the impact of aging on adaptive immunity and the role played by age-associated B- and T cells in atherosclerosis pathogenesis, emphasizing the need for interventions that target age-related immune dysfunction to reduce cardiovascular disease risk.