Scientists discover how macrophages age differently throughout the body
A study from the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology reveals that macrophages age differently depending on the tissue they inhabit. While these immune cells generally shift toward stress-response functions, their specific aging patterns are influenced by their local environment.
Why it matters
Understanding how immune cells age across different organs is critical for developing targeted therapies to combat age-related immune decline.
edited by Sadie Harley , reviewed by Andrew Zinin
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Add as preferred source Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Why does the immune system become less effective as we age? A new USC study published in BMC Biology offers fresh insights by examining a key immune cell type across tissues: macrophages.
Macrophages act as the body's cleanup and maintenance crew. Found in nearly every tissue, they help fight infections, remove damaged cells, repair tissues and keep inflammation under control, acting as a first line of defense for the immune system. But like many cells in the body, macrophages change as we get older.
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