The aging process involves changes in immune regulation, i.e. adaptive immunity declines whereas innate immunity becomes activated. NF-B signaling is the master regulator of the both immune systems. Two recent articles highlight the role of the NF-B system in aging and immune responses. Adler et al1 showed that the NF-B binding domain is the genetic regulatory motif which is most strongly associated with the aging process. Kwon et al2 studying HIV-1 infection and subsequent immune deficiency process demonstrated that HIV-1 Tat protein binds to SIRT1 protein, a well-known longevity factor, and inhibits the SIRT1-mediated deacetylation of the p65 component of the NF-B complex. As a consequence, the transactivation efficiency of the NF-B factor was greatly potentiated, leading to the activation of immune system and later to the decline of adaptive immunity. These observations support the scenario where immune responses and aging process can be enforced by the potentiation of NF-B transactivation efficiency. Longevity factors, such as SIRT1 and its activators, might regulate the efficiency of the NF-B signaling, the major outcome of which is inflamm-aging via proinflammatory responses. BioEssays 30:939-942, 2008.
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