As we age, our bodies gradually become vulnerable, riddled with diseases, and the effectiveness of vaccination is much less than before, and it seems that every corner of life is full of undesirable risks. Behind all this, in fact, is a battle between us and immunosenescence. This fight is silent, but it affects our quality of life more than any disease.
Immunosenescence is an age-related process of weakened immune system. It is associated with susceptibility to infection, poor vaccination efficacy, the occurrence of age-related diseases, and tumors. This process is not accidental, but is fueled by complex molecular mechanisms.
In the process of immunosenescence, our body exhibits a characteristic inflammatory state, which is called" inflammaging"。It is a chronic inflammation that worsens with age and is one of the main features of immunosenescence. This inflammation not only affects our immune system but also other parts of our body, including the brain, heart, muscles, etc.
At the same time, immunosenescence can also lead to the disorder of the T cell pool and chronic antigen stimulation, which will promote immune cells to enter a state of senescence in advance. These senescent immune cells secrete a process called" senescence-associated secretory phenotype"This substance can exacerbate the inflammatory response, further weakening the function of the immune system.
However, we are not helpless. Although the mechanism of immunosenescence needs to be further explored, it has been shown that immunosenescence can be alleviated by intervening in the cellular senescence process and the metabo-epigenetic axis. In addition, some new types of cancer immunity** have also begun to try to use the knowledge of immunosenescence to improve** the effect.
Overall, immunosenescence is a race against time. In this contest, we need more knowledge, more understanding, and more strategy. But as soon as we understand the importance of this struggle, it means that we have taken the first step towards victory. In this process, every small improvement can become our victory over time. Let's join this battle together!
*：zaoqu liu, qimeng liang, yuqing ren, et. al. immunosenescence: molecular mechanisms and diseases. signal transduct target ther. 2023 may 13;8(1):200. doi: 10.1038/s41392-023-01451-2