Scientists identify early immune aging process

(Tehran Ana)- A new study shows that immune cells begin losing sensitivity to inflammatory signals as early as age 30, offering new insights into age-related diseases.

News ID : 11023

Scientists from Sechenov University, in collaboration with researchers from the Research Institute of Fundamental and Clinical Immunology in Novosibirsk, have found that age-related alterations in the immune system may begin significantly earlier than previously believed.

According to the university's press office, the study revealed that immune cells gradually lose their responsiveness to inflammatory signals starting between the ages of 30 and 40. This decline may contribute to chronic low-grade inflammation, a hallmark of aging that is associated with numerous age-related disorders.

"With advancing age, immune system cells progressively lose their sensitivity to inflammatory signals, and this process begins relatively early, between the ages of 30 and 40," the university said in a statement. "As a result, chronic inflammation in the body increases, creating a paradoxical state in which inflammatory signaling intensifies while cellular responsiveness declines."

The research team analyzed blood samples collected from 144 healthy volunteers and compared two age groups: individuals aged 18–31 and those aged 32–59. The scientists examined the expression of key inflammatory cytokine receptors, including receptors for interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF), on the surface of immune cells.

The findings showed that the number of these receptors on innate immune cells decreases with age. In contrast, certain immune cell populations—particularly T lymphocytes—displayed an increase in receptor expression among older participants, suggesting a complex remodeling of immune responses during aging.

The researchers believe that these results provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying age-related immune system changes and demonstrate that such alterations begin earlier than previously assumed.

According to the university, the findings could support the development of personalized therapeutic approaches aimed at preventing and treating diseases associated with aging.