老年人或动物由于机体免疫机能的衰退,各种感染、自身免疫性病变及癌肿的发病率均见增高。近年来国内外对老年病的研究日益重视,而老年免疫学正在作为免疫学的一个新的分支脱颖而出。本文仅就近年来对老年性免疫缺陷的研究及其控制的发展现状,作一概略的综述。 一、胸腺与免疫系统老化的关系 大量研究资料表明,胸腺在免疫系统老化过程中起着关键性的作用。人与小鼠的胸腺在出生后,尤其在性成熟以后,随年龄的增长而逐渐萎缩。萎缩先见于皮质部,继 Older persons or animals due to the decline of immune function, a variety of infections, autoimmune lesions and the incidence of cancer are seen increased. In recent years, more and more attention has been paid to the research of geriatric diseases both at home and abroad, while geriatric immunology is emerging as a new branch of immunology. This article only summarizes the research on the immunodeficiency syndrome and its development in recent years. First, the relationship between the thymus and the immune system A large number of research data show that the thymus in the immune system plays a crucial role in the aging process. Thymic glands in humans and mice, after birth, especially after sexual maturity, gradually diminish with age. Shrinkage first seen in the cortex, following