Immune Cell Number, Phenotype, and Function in the Elderly with Sepsis

Sepsis is a form of life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by dysregulated host responses to an infection that can be partly attributed to immune dysfunction. Although sepsis affects patients of all ages, elderly individuals display increased susceptibility and mortality. This is partly due to immunosenescence, a decline in normal immune system function associated with physiological aging that affects almost all cell types in the innate and adaptive immune systems. In elderly patients with sepsis, these alterations in immune cells such as endothelial cells, neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages, natural killer cells, dendritic cells, T lymphocytes, and B lymphocytes, are largely responsible for their poor prognosis and increased mortality. Here, we review recent studies investigating the events affecting both innate and adaptive immune cells in elderly mice and patients with sepsis, including alterations in their number, phenotype, and function, to shed light on possible new therapeutic strategies.

Automated summary

Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by dysregulated host responses to infection, with elderly individuals displaying increased susceptibility and mortality due to immune dysfunction. Alterations in immune cells of elderly sepsis patients, including endothelial cells, neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages, natural killer cells, dendritic cells, T lymphocytes, and B lymphocytes, largely contribute to their poor prognosis and increased mortality. Recent studies on elderly mice and sepsis patients have investigated changes affecting both innate and adaptive immune cells, shedding light on potential new therapeutic strategies.