Tag: immunosenescence

Unravelling the Connection Between Energy Metabolism and Immune Senescence/Exhaustion in Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Abstract:

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating disease, characterized by a diverse array of symptoms including post-exertional malaise (PEM), severe fatigue, and cognitive impairments, all of which drastically diminish the patients’ quality of life. Despite its impact, no curative treatments exist, largely due to the limited understanding of the disease’s underlying pathophysiology.
Mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to impaired energy production and utilization, is believed to play a key role in the onset of fatigue and PEM, positioning it as a potential key pathophysiological mechanism underlying ME/CFS. Additionally, the disorder shows similarities to chronic viral infections, with frequent reports of immune system alterations, suggesting a critical role for immune (dys)functioning. In particular, the roles of immune senescence and immune exhaustion—two fundamental immune states—remain poorly understood in ME/CFS.
This state-of-the-art review explores how metabolic dysfunction and immune dysfunction may be interconnected in ME/CFS, proposing that energy deficits may directly impair immune function. By examining this metabolic–immune interplay, this review highlights potential pathways for developing innovative therapeutic strategies that target both energy metabolism and immune regulation, offering hope for improving patient outcomes.
Source: Van Campenhout J, Buntinx Y, Xiong H-Y, Wyns A, Polli A, Nijs J, Aerts JL, Laeremans T, Hendrix J. Unravelling the Connection Between Energy Metabolism and Immune Senescence/Exhaustion in Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Biomolecules. 2025; 15(3):357. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15030357 https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/3/357 (Full text)

Long COVID as a Disease of Accelerated Biological Aging: An Opportunity to Translate Geroscience Interventions

Abstract:

It has been four years since long COVID-the protracted consequences that survivors of COVID-19 face-was first described. Yet, this entity continues to devastate the quality of life of an increasing number of COVID-19 survivors without any approved therapy. Furthermore, there remains a paucity of clinical trials addressing the biological root causes of this disease. Notably, the symptoms of long COVID-including but not limited to exercise intolerance, cognitive impairment, orthostasis, and functional decline-are typically seen with advancing age.

Leveraging this similarity, we posit that Geroscience-which aims to target the biological drivers of aging to prevent age-associated conditions as a group-could offer promising therapeutic avenues for long COVID. Bearing this in mind, this review presents a framework for studying long COVID as a state of effectively accelerated biological aging. Thus, we comprehensively review here the role of biological hallmarks of aging in long COVID, identifying research gaps and proposing directions for future preclinical and clinical studies.

Source: Shafqat A, Masters MC, Tripathi U, Tchkonia T, Kirkland JL, Hashmi SK. Long COVID as a Disease of Accelerated Biological Aging: An Opportunity to Translate Geroscience Interventions. Ageing Res Rev. 2024 Jun 28:102400. doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102400. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38945306. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1568163724002186

Risk Factors for Long COVID in Older Adults

Abstract:

As time has passed following the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 have gradually exhibited a variety of symptoms associated with long COVID in the postacute phase of infection. Simultaneously, in many countries worldwide, the process of population aging has been accelerating. Within this context, the elderly population has not only become susceptible and high-risk during the acute phase of COVID-19 but also has considerable risks when confronting long COVID.
Elderly individuals possess specific immunological backgrounds, and during the process of aging, their immune systems can enter a state known as “immunosenescence”. This further exacerbates “inflammaging” and the development of various comorbidities in elderly individuals, rendering them more susceptible to long COVID. Additionally, long COVID can inflict both physical and mental harm upon elderly people, thereby reducing their overall quality of life. Consequently, the impact of long COVID on elderly people should not be underestimated.
This review seeks to summarize the infection characteristics and intrinsic factors of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on the physical and mental impact of long COVID. Additionally, it aims to explore potential strategies to mitigate the risk of long COVID or other emerging infectious diseases among older adults in the future.
Source: Hu Y, Liu Y, Zheng H, Liu L. Risk Factors for Long COVID in Older Adults. Biomedicines. 2023; 11(11):3002. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11113002 https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/11/11/3002 (Full text)

From aging to long COVID: exploring the convergence of immunosenescence, inflammaging, and autoimmunity

Abstract:

The process of aging is accompanied by a dynamic restructuring of the immune response, a phenomenon known as immunosenescence. This mini-review navigates through the complex landscape of age-associated immune changes, chronic inflammation, age-related autoimmune tendencies, and their potential links with immunopathology of Long COVID. Immunosenescence serves as an introductory departure point, elucidating alterations in immune cell profiles and their functional dynamics, changes in T-cell receptor signaling, cytokine network dysregulation, and compromised regulatory T-cell function.

Subsequent scrutiny of chronic inflammation, or “inflammaging,” highlights its roles in age-related autoimmune susceptibilities and its potential as a mediator of the immune perturbations observed in Long COVID patients. The introduction of epigenetic facets further amplifies the potential interconnections.

In this compact review, we consider the dynamic interactions between immunosenescence, inflammation, and autoimmunity. We aim to explore the multifaceted relationships that link these processes and shed light on the underlying mechanisms that drive their interconnectedness. With a focus on understanding the immunological changes in the context of aging, we seek to provide insights into how immunosenescence and inflammation contribute to the emergence and progression of autoimmune disorders in the elderly and may serve as potential mediator for Long COVID disturbances.

Source: Müller L, Di Benedetto S. From aging to long COVID: exploring the convergence of immunosenescence, inflammaging, and autoimmunity. Front Immunol. 2023 Oct 24;14:1298004. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1298004. PMID: 37942323; PMCID: PMC10628127. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10628127/ (Full text)