Insights into vaccines for elderly individuals: from the impacts of immunosenescence to delivery strategies

Yingying Hou; Min Chen; Yuan Bian; Yuan Hu; Junlan Chuan; Lei Zhong; Yuxuan Zhu; Rongsheng Tong

doi:10.1038/s41541-024-00874-4

npj Vaccines (Apr 2024)

Insights into vaccines for elderly individuals: from the impacts of immunosenescence to delivery strategies

Yingying Hou,
Min Chen,
Yuan Bian,
Yuan Hu,
Junlan Chuan,
Lei Zhong,
Yuxuan Zhu,
Rongsheng Tong

Affiliations

Yingying Hou: Department of Pharmacy, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Min Chen: Department of Pharmacy, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Yuan Bian: Department of Pharmacy, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Yuan Hu: Department of Pharmacy, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Junlan Chuan: Department of Pharmacy, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Lei Zhong: Department of Pharmacy, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Yuxuan Zhu: Department of Pharmacy, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Rongsheng Tong: Department of Pharmacy, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-024-00874-4
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 9, no. 1
pp. 1 – 13

Abstract

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Abstract Immunosenescence increases the risk and severity of diseases in elderly individuals and leads to impaired vaccine-induced immunity. With aging of the global population and the emerging risk of epidemics, developing adjuvants and vaccines for elderly individuals to improve their immune protection is pivotal for healthy aging worldwide. Deepening our understanding of the role of immunosenescence in vaccine efficacy could accelerate research focused on optimizing vaccine delivery for elderly individuals. In this review, we analyzed the characteristics of immunosenescence at the cellular and molecular levels. Strategies to improve vaccination potency in elderly individuals are summarized, including increasing the antigen dose, preparing multivalent antigen vaccines, adding appropriate adjuvants, inhibiting chronic inflammation, and inhibiting immunosenescence. We hope that this review can provide a review of new findings with regards to the impacts of immunosenescence on vaccine-mediated protection and inspire the development of individualized vaccines for elderly individuals.

Published in npj Vaccines

ISSN: 2059-0105 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Specialties of internal medicine: Immunologic diseases. Allergy; Medicine: Internal medicine: Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens
Website: https://www.nature.com/npjvaccines/

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