I know it's not particularly relevant to any disease being discussed in class right now, but I was doing some research on caloric restriction (CR) and found an interesting link between CR and immunology:
Caloric restriction (CR) is defined as a decrease in what an organism would consume ad libitum, but still above the level of malnutrition. It is arguably the most robust means of extending lifespan and has been shown to boost longevity in a wide array of organisms, ranging from yeast to rhesus monkeys. A few studies have analyzed the effects of CR on the immune system, which is known to decline with aging [1].
Given that Type 2 Diabetes is associated with inflammation that worsens with time, one such study analyzed the development of inflammation in liver, muscle, hypothalamus, and adipose tissue during aging and CR. Expression of inflammatory cytokines (TNFalpha, IL1-beta, IL-12B, and IL-6), macrophage and TLR4 markers (CD11c, CD11b, and arginase1), and proteins involved in the recruitment of macrophages (MCP-1, CCR2) were all analyzed as a function of age and CR. Interestingly, most of these markers were shown to decrease in response to CR [2]. The aging cardiovascular system is also greatly benefited by CR, with reported reductions in both inflammation and oxidative stress [3]. Some evidence also exists that CR may help to prevent/alleviate some chronic inflammatory disorders such as periodontal disease [4].
Whether or not CR mediates its effects on lifespan through significant regulation of the immune system has yet to be determined, but it's certainly an intriguing area of research.
1. Fontana L, Partridge L, Longo VD. Extending Healthy Life Span - From Yeast to Humans. Science 2010; 328(5976):321-326.
2. Horrillo D, Sierra J, Arribas C, Garcia-San Frutos M, Carrascosa JM, Lauzurica N, Fernandez-Agullo T, Ros M. Age-associated development of inflammation in Wistar rats: Effects of caloric restriction. Arch Physiol Biochem 2011; 117(3): 140-150.
3. Weiss EP, Fontana L. Caloric restriction: powerful protection for the aging heart and vasculature. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2011; 301(4):H1205-19.
4. Gonzalez O, Tobia C, Ebersole J, Novak M. Caloric restriction and chronic inflammatory diseases. Oral Dis 2011; doi: 10.1111/j. 1601-0825.2011.01830
