Abstract
The bulk of data in the field of biological aging are derived from blood analysis. Blood has three main roles during perfusion i) oxygen supply (red blood cells) ii) nutrient supply (plasma) and iii) immune surveillance (white blood cells). Cells that circulate in the bloodstream, the leukocytes, are very reactive to their environment and many studies have shown these immune cells’ characteristics to be different in older adults. Changes in the immune response underline the increase in many diseases with aging such as infections, cancer and autoimmune diseases. These last years tremendous advances have made in our understanding of the changes of the immune functions with aging and how they can contribute to the major age-related diseases. This symposium will aim to update the scientific community on 1) how the immune system is shaped during aging 2) how immune cells contribute to diseases 3) mechanisms (signalling, metabolic) explaining those observations 4) the role of inflammation.