Immune Senescence: A Key Driver of Aging and Age-Related Disorders

Human aging is a complex physiological process that is accompanied by the onset of various aging-related disorders, including cancer, infections, autoimmune diseases, type II diabetes, and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. In recent years, researchers have increasingly focused on the relationship between immunity and aging, leading to the development of the immune theory of aging. This theory posits that immune decline is a primary pathogenic factor in aging, weakening the body's defenses against tumors and pathogens while increasing the risk of autoimmunity and chronic inflammation. The concept of "immune senescence" has gained prominence, suggesting that immunological senescence may differ from general aging. The pathophysiology, causal links with aging and disease, and biomarkers of immunosenescent cells are intriguing areas of study. Immunosenescence involves immune dysfunction with age, including the remodeling of lymphoid organs, which alters immune function in the elderly and is closely linked to infections, autoimmune diseases, and malignant tumors. Recent studies highlight that senescent immune cells are among the most detrimental subtypes, accelerating the aging of solid organs and promoting systemic senescence. These cells have become a critical target for interventions aimed at slowing the aging process, with the potential for immune cells to one day help decelerate aging.

This research topic aims to explore promising, recent, and novel research trends in the field of immunosenescence. The primary objectives include clinical investigations to validate the association between immune senescence and tumor incidence, as well as examining the relationship between varying levels of immunological senescence and the occurrence of malignancies and disorders in older adults. The research will also focus on integrating new technologies, such as single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, to identify biomarkers of immune senescence cells. By addressing these objectives, the research seeks to deepen our understanding of the mechanisms underlying immunosenescence and its impact on aging and disease.

To gather further insights into the intricate relationship between immune senescence, aging, and diseases, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Identification of the phenotype of immunosenescence
- Exploration of immune senescence's upstream pathogenesis
- Investigation of the cause-and-effect connection between immunological senescence and systemic senescence
- Examination of the impact of delaying immune senescence on the body
- Development of therapeutic methods to delay the senescence of immune cells

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

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Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: immune senescence, aging, aging related diseases, the exhaustion of immune cells

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.