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Immunosenescence, Thymic Involution and Autoimmunity

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Immunosenescence

Part of the book series: Medical Intelligence Unit ((MIUN))

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Abstract

In recent years life expectancy in Western Societies has dramatically increased with greater numbers of individuals living longer; consequently the prevalence of age-associated diseases such as infections, cancers and autoimmune disease increases. A striking feature of the ageing process is the involution of the thymus. This primary lymphoid organ is instrumental in generating naive T-cell required to successfully defeat against ‘foreign’ and ‘self’ antigens. Much effort has been made to find means of reversing the effects of ageing and a variety of factors have been investigated in a quest to maintain a youthful immune system. In this review we examine some features of immunosenescence and the work undertaken, with particular interest to the role of the cytokine interleukin-7, to further our understanding of the relationship between ageing and development of autoimmunity.

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  1. Technology and Medicine, Faculty of Investigative Sciences, Department of Immunology, Imperial College of Science, Chelsea and Westminster Campus, 369 Fulham Road, London, SW10 9NH, UK

    Wayne A. Mitchell & Richard Aspinall

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Mitchell, W.A., Aspinall, R. (2007). Immunosenescence, Thymic Involution and Autoimmunity. In: Immunosenescence. Medical Intelligence Unit. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-76842-7_7

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