Immunoglobulin proteins are also known as antibodies, and can circulate freely or be bound to cell surfaces. They serve to tag specific structures for recognition and attack by the immune system, so a very broad range of variants on the basic structure are manufactured by plasma cells derived from B cells in response to the presence of immune-provoking antigens. These immunoglobulins then go on to shape the behavior of the immune system as a whole. Here, researchers take a tour of what is known of age-related changes in immunoglobulins, an area of study in which all too little is completely mapped or understood. To understand what is observed, one would have to also understand a great deal about what exactly the immune system is doing, and how those activities are affected with age. While the big picture is well understood, at the detail level the exploration of the intricate complexities of the aging immune system remains an ongoing process.
Aging is a complex biological phenomenon, which involved in a large number of diseases such as cancer, neurodegeneration, and cardiovascular diseases. Understanding the mechanism of aging may facilitate the development of preventive strategies of age-related diseases. Immunoglobulin (Ig) includes proteins with antibody (Ab) activity or membrane-bound proteins that share a chemically analogous structure to Ab. Ig can recognize and neutralize numerous antigens, which constitutes the main characteristic of adaptive immunity.
The quantity, glycosylation, and function of Ig change with advancing age. Some Ig is found to be accumulated in aged tissues and appear to be regarded as a potential marker for aging, which indicates the critical role of Ig in aging. B cells are main producers of antibodies and undergo aging-related changes, leading to increased autoimmune responses and reduced vaccine responses. The immune dysregulation of B cells is also intensively involved in the alteration of Ig.
In this review, we focus on the current research findings on Ig, discuss the relation between Ig and aging, highlight the complex interplay among B cell, gut microbiota, Ig, and aging, and explore potential therapeutic strategy. We hope this review may provide an insight for investigating the regulatory mechanism of Ig in aging, as well as for evaluating the therapeutic potential in treating age-related diseases.
Link: https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1690018
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