Characterization of the Perioperative Immune Response in the Context of Aging

Presenter: Dr. Jillian Bonaroti (mentor: Dr. Timothy Billiar)

"Inflammaging” is characterized by a persistent, low-level inflammatory state involving both the innate and cell mediated immune system, as well as cytokine and chemokine networks. This phenomenon occurs both within the tissue microenvironment and systemic circulation and has been linked to numerous age-related disease processes. Aged patients (>65 years old) have increased morbidity and mortality following surgical intervention. However, the age-related differences in the perioperative and post-operative immune responses to major operative stress have not been fully characterized. Dr. Bonaroti will present CITEseq and proteomic data demonstrating her group's findings when comparing the perioperative immune response of aged and young patients.