Review
Ophthalmology
Antonio Di Zazzo, Marco Coassin, Pier Luigi Surico, Stefano Bonini
Summary: Ageing is the individual plasticity and remodeling capacity to environmental insults and stimuli. The precise mechanism is not fully understood, but several theories including programmed cell death, genetic mutations, the epigenetic clock, wear-and-tear and free radicals have been proposed. The ocular surface is a complex morpho-functional unit composed of different tissues that interact to maintain homeostasis and function. Ageing disrupts this system through inflammaging and immunosenescence, leading to ocular surface failure in older individuals.
EXPERIMENTAL EYE RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Geriatrics & Gerontology
E. Tran Van Hoi, N. A. De Glas, J. E. A. Portielje, D. Van Heemst, F. Van Den Bos, S. P. Jochems, S. P. Mooijaart
Summary: This systematic review examines the association between immune biomarkers and frailty, finding IL-6 and CRP to be the most consistently associated biomarkers. Further research is needed to validate these immune biomarkers and improve the care of older patients.
EXPERIMENTAL GERONTOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Antero Salminen
Summary: Aging is a progressive degenerative process involving chronic inflammation and the accumulation of senescent cells. Cellular senescence and immunosuppression establish a feed-forward process which promotes aging and age-related diseases.
AGEING RESEARCH REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Alistair V. W. Nunn, Geoffrey W. Guy, Stanley W. Botchway, Jimmy D. Bell
Summary: Good mitochondrial health may play a key role in determining the severity of COVID-19, especially in older populations who are more susceptible to infection. Viruses have the ability to manipulate mitochondrial function and may impact the ageing process, with slowing ageing potentially linked to better economic outcomes.
Article
Cell Biology
Ilaria Buondonno, Francesca Sassi, Francesco Cattaneo, Patrizia D'Amelio
Summary: Aging is associated with changes in the immune system, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. This study found that the number of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells decreased in frail subjects, but their ratios remained unchanged. The expression of CD28 was decreased in T cells from frail subjects, and T cells from robust subjects produced more IL-17 after CD28 stimulation. Additionally, mitochondrial bioenergetics and ATP levels were lower in immune cells from frail subjects. These findings suggest that changes in T cell profiles and impaired T cell response and mitochondrial function may be hallmarks of frailty.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Sian M. Henson, Dunja Aksentijevic
Summary: Type 2 diabetes has been identified as a chronic inflammatory disease associated with immune senescence, which may contribute to cardiac dysfunction. Metabolic stress-induced immunosenescence plays a crucial role in diabetic cardiomyopathy by causing metabolic perturbations and impaired energetics. Understanding the interaction between inflammaging and cardiomyocytes in T2D cardiomyopathy can help in developing effective therapeutic interventions.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Davide De Biase, Giuseppe Piegari, Francesco Prisco, Ilaria Cimmino, Ilaria D'Aquino, Valeria Baldassarre, Francesco Oriente, Serenella Papparella, Orlando Paciello
Summary: This study evaluated the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome in bovine skeletal muscle for the first time, revealing pathologic changes associated with aging and an age-related increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The data suggests that NLRP3 inflammasome activation during aging may contribute to creating a pro-inflammatory environment in skeletal muscle, altering normal muscle anabolism and metabolism.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Zhixin Du, Yaohui Wang, Liping Yang, Tong Zhang, Yu Jiang, Zhenqiang Zhang
Summary: This study integrated bioinformatics and experimental validation to explore the mechanisms of inflammaging in the brain. The research found that inflammatory-related genes were closely associated with brain aging, and animal studies were conducted to validate the selected biomarkers. The study also discovered that CX3CL1 may play a role in the development of inflammaging by regulating macrophages, which suggests that targeting CX3CL1 can potentially delay inflammaging and immunosenescence in the brain.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Rebecca G. Reed, Steven R. Presnell, Ahmad Al-Attar, Charles T. Lutz, Suzanne C. Segerstrom
Summary: Stressful life events can accelerate immune aging, but using cognitive reappraisal as an emotion regulation strategy may reduce these effects. This study investigated whether cognitive reappraisal moderates the relationship between life stressors and immune aging markers in older adults. The results showed that experiencing more frequent life stressors was associated with higher levels of late-differentiated NK cells, but this effect was explained by health-related stressors. Surprisingly, experiencing more frequent and less desirable stressors was associated with lower average levels of TNF-alpha. Moreover, cognitive reappraisal was found to moderate the associations between life stressors and late-differentiated NK cells between individuals and IL-6 within individuals.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2023)
Review
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Feng Zhou, Zhanqi Wang, Guorui Zhang, Yingying Wu, Yi Xiong
Summary: This review discusses the role of inflammaging and immunosenescence in periodontitis, with a focus on the connection between inflammaging and immunosenescence in alveolar bone turnover. The results show that the senescent immune system plays a significant role in aging-related alveolar bone loss. Inflammaging and immunosenescence interact functionally and mechanistically, affecting alveolar bone turnover. Therefore, clinical treatment strategies for alveolar bone loss could be developed based on the specific molecular mechanism connecting inflammaging, immunosenescence, and alveolar bone turnover.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Jack Feehan, Nicholas Tripodi, Vasso Apostolopoulos
Summary: Cellular senescence is a critical part of human anti-tumor defence, but the accumulation of senescent cells with age can lead to various pathologies. Immunosenescence, the senescent change in immune cells, has a wide range of physiological effects and is partially responsible for many diseases associated with aging. Understanding the effects and mechanisms of immunosenescence can improve disease outcomes and prevention in older adults, and lead to new treatments for common illnesses.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Glenn Choon Lim Wong, Ted Kheng Siang Ng, Jia Le Lee, Pei Yi Lim, Sean Kai Jie Chua, Crystal Tan, Michelle Chua, Janice Tan, Samantha Lee, Angelia Sia, Maxel K. W. Ng, Rathi Mahendran, Ee Heok Kua, Roger C. M. Ho, Anis Larbi
Summary: Horticultural therapy (HT) intervention in older adults led to increased numbers of naïve CD8(+) T cells, decreased CTLA4-expressing memory T cells, and reduced IL-6 levels. These findings suggest that HT can help reduce T-cell exhaustion and inflammaging in older adults.
JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES A-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND MEDICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Bulmaro Cisneros, Ian Garcia-Aguirre, Juan Unzueta, Isabel Arrieta-Cruz, Oscar Gonzalez-Morales, Juan M. Dominguez-Larrieta, Aura Tamez-Gonzalez, Gerardo Leyva-Gomez, Jonathan J. Magana
Summary: The function of the immune system declines during aging, leading to compromised response against pathogens and chronic low-grade inflammation. This review discusses the molecules and mechanisms that regulate the relationship between immunosenescence and inflammaging, as well as therapeutic strategies to improve immunity in aged individuals.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Lucas Leite Cunha, Victor Alexandre dos Santos Valsecchi, Laura Sterian Ward
Summary: The immune response is remodeled with aging, which is called immunosenescence. Some scientists believe immunosenescence is an adaptation of the immune system to the aging environment, while others think aging leads to chronic inflammation. Studying immunosenescence can bring practical innovations to medicine and the health system.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Atefe Ghamar Talepoor, Mehrnoosh Doroudchi
Summary: Immune system aging and atherosclerosis share common drivers, such as inflammation and chronic viral infections. Several DNA and RNA viruses are stimulators of both immunosenescence and atherosclerosis. The newly emerged SARS-CoV-2 virus can induce immune aging and atherosclerosis, as well as cause inflammation.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Maria Conte, Giuseppe Conte, Morena Martucci, Daniela Monti, Laura Casarosa, Andrea Serra, Marcello Mele, Claudio Franceschi, Stefano Salvioli
Article
Cell Biology
Morena Martucci, Maria Conte, Rita Ostan, Antonio Chiariello, Filomena Miele, Claudio Franceschi, Stefano Salvioli, Aurelia Santoro, Federica Provini
Article
Immunology
Maria Conte, Morena Martucci, Giovanni Mosconi, Antonio Chiariello, Maria Cappuccilli, Valentina Totti, Aurelia Santoro, Claudio Franceschi, Stefano Salvioli
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Giulia Foggi, Francesca Ciucci, Maria Conte, Laura Casarosa, Andrea Serra, Elisabetta Giannessi, Carla Lenzi, Stefano Salvioli, Giuseppe Conte, Marcello Mele
Summary: This study compared the histochemical and gene expression characteristics of muscles from Italian Maremmana and French Aubrac cattle breeds, finding Maremmana muscles to be more oxidative. Interestingly, voluntary grazing activity did not significantly impact muscle characteristics and gene expression levels.
Article
Cell Biology
Maria Conte, Aurelia Santoro, Salvatore Collura, Morena Martucci, Giuseppe Battista, Alberto Bazzocchi, Cristina Morsiani, Federica Sevini, Miriam Capri, Daniela Monti, Claudio Franceschi, Stefano Salvioli
Summary: Perilipin 2 (PLIN2) is a protein involved in lipid storage and metabolism in non-adipose tissues and circulating PLIN2 (cPLIN2) has been associated with certain types of cancer. The levels of cPLIN2 do not change with age, but are higher in women than in men; they strongly correlate with BMI, fat and lean mass, and the proinflammatory adipokine leptin. This suggests that cPLIN2, possibly regulated by leptin, could be used as a proxy for body adiposity.
Article
Cell Biology
Cristina Morsiani, Lucia Terlecki-Zaniewicz, Susanna Skalicky, Maria Giulia Bacalini, Salvatore Collura, Maria Conte, Federica Sevini, Paolo Garagnani, Stefano Salvioli, Matthias Hackl, Johannes Grillari, Claudio Franceschi, Miriam Capri
Summary: This study identified an age-related increase of plasma miR-19a/b-3p in old subjects but a decrease in centenarians. The decrease was more pronounced in healthy centenarians and confirmed by comparing healthy and unhealthy centenarians' isomiRs patterns. The findings suggest potential biomarkers for tracking aging and age-related diseases.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Maria Conte, Valentina Medici, Davide Malagoli, Antonio Chiariello, Alice Cirrincione, Annalisa Davin, Maia Chikhladze, Francesco Vasuri, Giuseppe Legname, Isidre Ferrer, Silvia Vanni, Gabriella Marcon, Tino Emanuele Poloni, Antonio Guaita, Claudio Franceschi, Stefano Salvioli
Summary: The study found that perilipins are expressed in the human brain, with only Plin2 being modulated with age and neurodegeneration and linked to an inflammatory state. The accumulation of lipid droplets decorated with Plin2 may be an early marker and initial step in inflammation and neurodegeneration during brain aging.
NEUROPATHOLOGY AND APPLIED NEUROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Marco Narici, Jamie McPhee, Maria Conte, Martino V. Franchi, Kyle Mitchell, Sara Tagliaferri, Elena Monti, Giuseppe Marcolin, Philip J. Atherton, Kenneth Smith, Bethan Phillips, Jonathan Lund, Claudio Franceschi, Marcello Maggio, Gillian S. Butler-Browne
Summary: The study introduced an ultrasound imaging method for diagnosing sarcopenia based on changes in muscle geometric proportions. The ultrasound sarcopenic index (USI) was proposed as a novel marker for the loss of muscle mass associated with sarcopenia, providing a useful 'signature of sarcopenia' and allowing for stratification of individuals according to muscle sarcopenia presence and severity. The USI was found to be a useful clinical tool for confirming the diagnosis of sarcopenia, with DXA-derived skeletal muscle index (SMI) showing significant correlation with USI.
JOURNAL OF CACHEXIA SARCOPENIA AND MUSCLE
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Monica Tognocchi, Maria Conte, Lara Testai, Morena Martucci, Andrea Serra, Stefano Salvioli, Vincenzo Calderone, Marcello Mele, Giuseppe Conte
Summary: Epidemiological studies have shown a positive relationship between dietary fat intake and the onset of metabolic diseases. In this study, the effect of supplementation with cheese enriched with omega-3 fatty acids and CLA on metabolism and lipid profiles of mice was evaluated. The results showed that the enriched cheese reduced saturated fat levels and increased CLA and ALA content in all tissues except the brain. Furthermore, the consumption of enriched cheese resulted in a reduction in the expression of inflammatory genes in all analyzed tissues. These findings indicate the feasibility of using nutritional interventions to modulate inflammation and prevent or delay chronic degenerative diseases.
Review
Cell Biology
Maria Conte, Cristina Giuliani, Antonio Chiariello, Vincenzo Iannuzzi, Claudio Franceschi, Stefano Salvioli
Summary: GDF15 is a stress-related cytokine that plays an important role in the aging process. Despite its association with age-related diseases, GDF15 has protective effects in various tissues and may act as a mediator of defense processes.
AGEING RESEARCH REVIEWS
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Miriam Capri, Maria Conte, Erika Ciurca, Chiara Pirazzini, Paolo Garagnani, Aurelia Santoro, Federica Longo, Stefano Salvioli, Patrick Lau, Ralf Moeller, Jens Jordan, Thomas Illig, Maria-Moreno Villanueva, Markus Gruber, Alexander Buerkle, Claudio Franceschi, Joern Rittweger
Summary: Spaceflight and its associated stressors, such as microgravity, radiation exposure, confinement, circadian derailment and disruptive workloads, present a novel exposome that affects various systems in the human body, resembling an accelerated aging process. The molecular events involved, including oxidative stress and DNA damage repair, contribute to the activation of an inflammatory response, which has been proposed as a driver of accelerated aging. The study discusses the shared modifications between spaceflight-induced changes and aging and explores potential countermeasures for astronauts and older adults.
AGEING RESEARCH REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Maria Conte, Jacopo Sabbatinelli, Antonio Chiariello, Morena Martucci, Aurelia Santoro, Daniela Monti, Marina Arcaro, Daniela Galimberti, Elio Scarpini, Anna Rita Bonfigli, Angelica Giuliani, Fabiola Olivieri, Claudio Franceschi, Stefano Salvioli
Summary: FGF21, GDF15, and HN are mitokines related to mitochondrial stress and positively correlated with age, showing different expressions in type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease, suggesting FGF21 as a candidate marker of healthy aging.