How Aging Influences Immunity

Adaptive immunity declines as we age, and our innate immunity increases in activity.  One example includes thymic involution altering the population of T cells.  While innate immunity activity increases, there is a subsequent rise in pro-inflammatory cytokines resulting in a pro-inflammatory phenotype. The ancient signaling pathway found in both insects and vertebrates is the NF-kB system, which regulates our innate immune system.  The NF-kB pathway organizes intracellular immune responses, thus controlling the aging process, and age-related diseases.

Salminen et al (2008) review the role of innate immunity signaling in this journal article. 

View the abstract @  Activation of innate immunity system during aging: NF-kB signaling is the molecular culprit of inflamm-aging

Salminen, A., Huuskonen, J., Ojala, J., Kauppinen, A., Kaarniranta, K. & Suuronen, T., 2008, Activation of innate immunity system during aging: NF-kB signaling is the molecular culprit of inflamm-aging, Ageing research reviews, 7(2), pp. 83-105