Boosting immune function for older adults

Christina Camell's research at the University of Minnesota focuses on improving immune function in older adults. Her team discovered that a protein called PD1 on immune cells, which normally acts as an off-switch, contributes to the reduced effectiveness of immune responses with age. By blocking PD1, they successfully rejuvenated immune cells in older mice, significantly improving their survival rates when exposed to infections. This approach, which shows promise even if administered after exposure to pathogens, could lead to therapies that boost immunity in older individuals, potentially improving health outcomes as the population ages. Read full story on cbs.umn.edu.