Immune Resistance and its Impact on Health and Longevity
Research shows that people with strong immune systems live longer and are more resistant to disease
Kelly Sikkema
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A recent study by international researchers highlights the effects of immune resistance and shows that it is linked to longer life, resistance to disease, and survival of infections such as COVID and sepsis.
Understanding immune resistance
The researchers define immune resilience as the ability of the immune system to control inflammation and rapidly restore immune activity regardless of age. The study identifies two primary measures of immune resilience: the relative amounts of CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells, as well as gene expression signatures associated with inflammation.
Measuring the resilience of the immune system
The first measure concerns the balance of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, with the optimal combination indicative of a stronger immune system. Interestingly, low levels of CD8+ T cells, which are responsible for eliminating damaged or infected cells, have been found to be an important indicator of immune system health. In connection with infections such as SARS-CoV-2 and HIV, people with high CD4+ T cell counts and low CD8+ T cell counts were least at risk of developing severe HIV infection and AIDS.
The second measure focuses on gene expression signatures associated with the risk of mortality from infections. One signature that correlates with higher mortality includes genes associated with inflammation. The other, which correlates with a higher survival rate, comprises genes that regulate inflammation and ensure a balanced immune response.
Immune system resilience and longevity
The researchers investigated the resilience of the immune system in almost 50,000 participants of different ages who were confronted with various immunological challenges. Individuals with optimal immune resistance were more likely to live longer, be more resistant to infections such as HIV and flu, survive a recurrence of skin cancer, survive COVID, and recover from blood poisoning.
Immune defense dynamics
Despite its importance, immune resistance fluctuates over time. Among participants with optimal resilience to common viral infections, resilience changed to poor resilience within 48 hours of onset of symptoms. While many recovered back to a favorable gene expression level, around 30% did not return to the profile associated with survival, suggesting that recovery time varies depending on the person and disease.
Immune defenses and aging
The study found that optimal immune defenses are highest among young people and lowest among older people. As people age, they are exposed to various health conditions that challenge the immune system through cycles of response and recovery. Over the course of a lifetime of challenges like these, the immune system may recover more slowly, which affects the resilience of a person's immune system. It is noteworthy that some people who are over 90 years old still have optimal immune resistance, which indicates exceptional immune system capabilities.
Effects on population health
Evaluation of immune cell and gene expression profiles provides a relatively simple method for determining a person's immune resistance. This information can be useful in determining disease risk, predicting response to treatment, and estimating recovery potential. The importance of understanding and strengthening immune resistance for public health could help promote overall wellbeing and longevity.
The deeper we dig into the intricacies of immune resistance, the clearer its potential to unlock the secrets of aging and longevity becomes. Understanding their impact on health and longevity opens up new avenues for personalized health measures and brings us closer to a future where immune resilience plays a central role in our quest for wellbeing.
References
Ahuja, S.K., Manoharan, M.S., Lee, G.C., McKinnon, L.R., Meunier, J.A., Steri, M., Harper, N., Fiorillo, E., Smith, A.M., Restrepo, M.I., Branum, A.P., Bottomley, M.J., Orrù, V., Jiménez, F., Carrillo, A., Pandranki, L., Winter, C., Winter, L., Gaitan, A. A.,. Hey, W. (2023). Immune resilience despite inflammatory stress promotes longevity and favorable health outcomes including resistance to infection. Nature Communications, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-38238-6
Publiziert
6.9.2024
Kategorie
Health
Experte
A recent study by international researchers highlights the effects of immune resistance and shows that it is linked to longer life, resistance to disease, and survival of infections such as COVID and sepsis.
Understanding immune resistance
The researchers define immune resilience as the ability of the immune system to control inflammation and rapidly restore immune activity regardless of age. The study identifies two primary measures of immune resilience: the relative amounts of CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells, as well as gene expression signatures associated with inflammation.
Measuring the resilience of the immune system
The first measure concerns the balance of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, with the optimal combination indicative of a stronger immune system. Interestingly, low levels of CD8+ T cells, which are responsible for eliminating damaged or infected cells, have been found to be an important indicator of immune system health. In connection with infections such as SARS-CoV-2 and HIV, people with high CD4+ T cell counts and low CD8+ T cell counts were least at risk of developing severe HIV infection and AIDS.
The second measure focuses on gene expression signatures associated with the risk of mortality from infections. One signature that correlates with higher mortality includes genes associated with inflammation. The other, which correlates with a higher survival rate, comprises genes that regulate inflammation and ensure a balanced immune response.
Immune system resilience and longevity
The researchers investigated the resilience of the immune system in almost 50,000 participants of different ages who were confronted with various immunological challenges. Individuals with optimal immune resistance were more likely to live longer, be more resistant to infections such as HIV and flu, survive a recurrence of skin cancer, survive COVID, and recover from blood poisoning.
Immune defense dynamics
Despite its importance, immune resistance fluctuates over time. Among participants with optimal resilience to common viral infections, resilience changed to poor resilience within 48 hours of onset of symptoms. While many recovered back to a favorable gene expression level, around 30% did not return to the profile associated with survival, suggesting that recovery time varies depending on the person and disease.
Immune defenses and aging
The study found that optimal immune defenses are highest among young people and lowest among older people. As people age, they are exposed to various health conditions that challenge the immune system through cycles of response and recovery. Over the course of a lifetime of challenges like these, the immune system may recover more slowly, which affects the resilience of a person's immune system. It is noteworthy that some people who are over 90 years old still have optimal immune resistance, which indicates exceptional immune system capabilities.
Effects on population health
Evaluation of immune cell and gene expression profiles provides a relatively simple method for determining a person's immune resistance. This information can be useful in determining disease risk, predicting response to treatment, and estimating recovery potential. The importance of understanding and strengthening immune resistance for public health could help promote overall wellbeing and longevity.
The deeper we dig into the intricacies of immune resistance, the clearer its potential to unlock the secrets of aging and longevity becomes. Understanding their impact on health and longevity opens up new avenues for personalized health measures and brings us closer to a future where immune resilience plays a central role in our quest for wellbeing.
Experte
Referenzen
Ahuja, S.K., Manoharan, M.S., Lee, G.C., McKinnon, L.R., Meunier, J.A., Steri, M., Harper, N., Fiorillo, E., Smith, A.M., Restrepo, M.I., Branum, A.P., Bottomley, M.J., Orrù, V., Jiménez, F., Carrillo, A., Pandranki, L., Winter, C., Winter, L., Gaitan, A. A.,. Hey, W. (2023). Immune resilience despite inflammatory stress promotes longevity and favorable health outcomes including resistance to infection. Nature Communications, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-38238-6
Publiziert
6.9.2024
Kategorie
Health
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