Targeting Immune Dysfunction in Aging and Age-Related Diseases
A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 January 2026 | Viewed by 5
Special Issue Editors
Interests: immunosenescence; longevity; nutraceuticals in healthy and longevity; aging; immunopathology; immunogenetics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: immunopathology; immunosenescence; aging; role of nutraceuticals in health and longevity
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
A progressive decline in immune function, known as immunosenescence, accompanies aging and is often linked to chronic, low-grade inflammation, termed inflammaging. These changes increase susceptibility to infections, reduce vaccine efficacy, and contribute to numerous age-related diseases (ARDs), including cancer, neurodegeneration, and cardiovascular as well as metabolic disorders.
Despite the growing recognition of immune dysfunction as a key driver of aging and its associated pathologies, effective strategies to modulate immune aging remain limited.
This Special Issue aims to highlight recent advances in the understanding of the mechanisms of immune dysfunction in aging and its role in the pathophysiology of ARDs, including the impaired resolution and regeneration phases of inflammation. In aging, immune dysfunction often disrupts these critical phases, leading to the defective clearance of inflammatory cells, the reduced production of pro-resolving mediators, and a sustained inflammatory milieu. These processes contribute to chronic inflammation, tissue damage, fibrosis, and a diminished capacity for regeneration, ultimately driving the progression of ARDs.
We invite original research and review articles that explore emerging therapeutic interventions, such as immunomodulators, immunoceutical-based strategies, senotherapeutics, and lifestyle approaches, with a focus on innovative drug and delivery systems (e.g., plant-derived extracellular vesicles, nanoparticles) aimed at targeting the molecular and cellular mechanisms of immunosenescence. We also welcome studies on the effects of chronic inflammation and immune–metabolic interactions on immune function. By integrating insights from basic science and clinical research, this Special Issue seeks to foster translational strategies to restore immune homeostasis and improve the healthspan in aging populations.
Dr. Anna Aiello
Dr. Anna Calabrò
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- immunosenescence
- inflammaging
- immune dysfunction
- aging
- age-related diseases (ARDs)
- immune–metabolic interactions
- immunomodulators
- immunoceuticals
- senotherapeutics
- lifestyle interventions
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