USC Scientists Uncover Secret to a Youthful Immune System

So, is there an easy way for us to test to identify the ratio / balance of our innate vs. adaptive immune cells? We know that rapamycin helps prevent blood stem cell aging, so I suspect it has an effect on the stem cells mentioned below and it would be interesting if we could measure the effect in our bodies: Rapamycin Prevents Blood Stem Cell Aging, New MIT Study

What helps certain immune systems stay youthful and effective in combating age-related diseases? In a recent study published in Cellular & Molecular Immunology, USC Stem Cell scientist Rong Lu and her collaborators point the finger at a small subset of blood stem cells, which make an outsized contribution to maintaining either a youthful balance or an age-related imbalance of the two main types of immune cells: innate and adaptive.

Innate immune cells serve as the body’s first line of defense, mobilizing a quick and general attack against invading germs. For germs that evade the body’s innate immune defenses, the second line of attack consists of adaptive immune cells, such as B cells and T cells that rely on their memory of past infections to craft a specific and targeted response. A healthy balance between innate and adaptive immune cells is the hallmark of a youthful immune system—and a key to longevity.

Full story:
https://scitechdaily.com/usc-scientists-uncover-secret-to-a-youthful-immune-system/

Source Paper (open access):

Age-associated imbalance in immune cell regeneration varies across individuals and arises from a distinct subset of stem cells

by Anna Nogalska, Jiya Eerdeng, Samir Akre, Mary Vergel-Rodriguez, Yeachan Lee, Charles Bramlett, Adnan Y. Chowdhury, Bowen Wang, Colin G. Cess, Stacey D. Finley and Rong Lu, 24 October 2024, Cellular & Molecular Immunology .
DOI: 10.1038/s41423-024-01225-y

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41423-024-01225-y

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The paper cited above

focused on the ratio of B cells to granulocytes in the peripheral blood (BG ratio), as they are the most abundant adaptive and innate immune cells, respectively

In their early-aging mice vs. delayed aging mice, the BG ratio was higher, meaning more innate immune cells relative to adaptive immune cells for the early-aging mice.

Are there any public tests for measuring innate/adaptive immune systems? One simple if imprecise test is the ratio to neutrophils (innate) to lymphocytes (NLR).

How can we reduce the ratio of innate to adaptive immunity with age? One way is through fasting of some types. Walter Longo and his collaborators studied the fast-mimicking diet.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-45260-9

The authors showed that:

…3 FMD cycles in adult study participants are associated with reduced insulin resistance and other pre-diabetes markers, lower hepatic fat (as determined by magnetic resonance imaging) and increased lymphoid to myeloid ratio: an indicator of immune system age.

That increased ratio of adaptive lymphoid to innate myeloid is an indicator of a more youthful immune system.

Does anyone else know of any measurement tests or therapies?

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