Editorial: Immunity in aging and age-related diseases and dysfunctions

Aging of the immune system, referred to as immunosenescence, is characterized by age-related 16 alterations in both the adaptive and innate immune responses [1; 2]. These age-associated immune 17 changes drive the accumulation of senescent cells and the development of the senescence-associated 18 secretory phenotype, characterized by the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and 19 tissue-damaging enzymes [2]. In parallel, aging disrupts the composition and function of extracellular 20 vesicles (EVs), key mediators of intercellular communication that increasingly reflect and propagate 21 systemic inflammatory signals [3]. Collectively, these mechanisms contribute to inflamm-aging, a 22 chronic, sterile, low-grade inflammatory state [1; 2;