Human immune aging
Marina Terekhova, Pavla Boháčová, Maxim N. Artyomov
Abstract
Aging is an essential aspect of human life, and studying its mechanisms is crucial for extending lifespan and improving quality of life. The immune system plays a central role in the onset of age-related diseases. Understanding the differences between healthy and dysfunctional aging provides key insights into the fundamental immune alternations that occur prior to the point where the system begins to fail. In this review, we explore current perspectives on human immune aging. We focus on changes in the composition of, and consequential functional effects within, the major immune compartments in both circulation and tissues. We discuss earlier findings obtained through flow cytometry, alongside more recent studies utilizing single-cell and advanced cytometry techniques. We highlight here how these methods complement each other and explore potential sources of discrepancies. Finally, we address the challenges that persist in the field of human immune aging.