Table 2.
Age‐related changes in the innate immune system
| Cell type | Age‐related increase | Age‐related decrease |
|---|---|---|
| Macrophages | PGE2 production | Chemotaxis |
| Phagocytosis | ||
| TLR expression and function | ||
| Cytokine production | ||
| Neutrophils | No change in the number of cells | Chemotaxis |
| Phagocytosis | ||
| Superoxide production | ||
| DC | IFN‐I/III production | |
| Antigen presentation | ||
| Chemotaxis and endocytosis | ||
| NK cells | Total number of cells | Proliferative response to IL‐2 |
| Migration ability |
Abbreviations: DC, dendritic cells; IFN, interferon; IL, interleukin; NK, natural killer; PGE2, prostaglandin 2; TLR, toll‐like receptor.