Ageing of the immune system

Question 1

What is class switch?

Answer 1

IgG to IgE?
Increases the affinity meaning the response is stronger better and quicker.

Question 2

What is immunosenescence?

Answer 2

Characterised by deterioration of essentially all immunological functions, resulting in a increase susceptibility to infectious agents, cancers and other diseases and less responsive to vaccination

Question 3

What happens to the thymus as we age?

Answer 3

Regression or involution of the thymus–> age decreases the size of the thymus (disorganisation of the thymic microenvironment) meaning less T-cell matured produced less cell mediated immunity
No new T-cells made only the old multiply to fill in the missing ones in elders

Question 4

What is needed to activate T-cells

Answer 4

CD28

Question 5

What happens to the innate immunity as we age?

Answer 5

Decrease phagocytosis
Change in phenotype NK cells