[The role of immunosenescence and inflammaging in aging-associated diseases].

Abstract

With the increase in the number of people with advanced age (> 60 years) worldwide, it is necessary to understand the processes that lead to healthy aging. Cellular senescence, immunosenescence and inflammaging are part of the natural process of aging and are associated with age-related diseases. Cellular senescence is characterized by the arrest of the cell cycle in the G1 phase. Senescent cells can be identified by different markers (surface or intracellular), by changes in their functions, and by their gene expression profile. Immunosenescence causes dysregulation of the immune response, with persistent (chronic) increases in inflammatory mediators and decreases in the effectiveness of immune effector responses, which promotes the development and severity of chronic-degenerative diseases and fragility. When immunosenescence is related with advanced age, it is known as inflammaging. New strategies to revert immunosenescence are currently being investigated, with senotherapy with senolytic drugs that eliminate senescent cells, and with senomorphic drugs that inhibit the secretion of senescence-promoting mediators. Senolytic drugs may be useful during the aging process, to delay, prevent and/or improve age-related diseases.