Chronic inflammation in the etiology of disease across the life span

• Published in: Nature medicine Vol. 25; no. 12; pp. 1822 - 1832
• Main Authors: Furman, David, Campisi, Judith, Verdin, Eric, Carrera-Bastos, Pedro, Targ, Sasha, Franceschi, Claudio, Ferrucci, Luigi, Gilroy, Derek W., Fasano, Alessio, Miller, Gary W., Miller, Andrew H., Mantovani, Alberto, Weyand, Cornelia M., Barzilai, Nir, Goronzy, Jorg J., Rando, Thomas A., Effros, Rita B., Lucia, Alejandro, Kleinstreuer, Nicole, Slavich, George M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Nature Publishing Group US 01.12.2019; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/181/1403; 631/181/2474; 631/250/2520; 631/250/256; 692/699/67; Aging; Autoimmune Diseases - etiology; Autoimmune Diseases - physiopathology; Behavior; Biology; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cancer Research; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - physiopathology; Chronic Disease - epidemiology; Chronic diseases; Chronic infection; Cytokines; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes Mellitus - etiology; Diabetes Mellitus - physiopathology; Environmental health; Etiology; Fatty liver; Health risk assessment; Health Sciences; Hospitals; Humans; Hälsovetenskap; Infections; Infectious Diseases; Inflammation; Inflammation - complications; Inflammation - epidemiology; Inflammation - physiopathology; Insulin resistance; Ischemia; Kidney diseases; Life span; Life Style; Liver diseases; Longevity - genetics; Longevity - physiology; Medical and Health Sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Medicine; Metabolic Diseases; Metabolic syndrome; Molecular Medicine; Mortality; Neoplasms - etiology; Neoplasms - physiopathology; Neurodegenerative diseases; Neurodegenerative Diseases - etiology; Neurodegenerative Diseases - physiopathology; Neurosciences; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease - etiology; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease - physiopathology; Pathogens; Patient outcomes; Perspective; Phenotypes; Psychological stress; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic - etiology; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic - physiopathology; Risk analysis; Risk Factors; Toxicants; United States
• ISSN: 1078-8956; 1546-170X; 1546-170X
• DOI: 10.1038/s41591-019-0675-0

Although intermittent increases in inflammation are critical for survival during physical injury and infection, recent research has revealed that certain social, environmental and lifestyle factors can promote systemic chronic inflammation (SCI) that can, in turn, lead to several diseases that collectively represent the leading causes of disability and mortality worldwide, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and autoimmune and neurodegenerative disorders. In the present Perspective we describe the multi-level mechanisms underlying SCI and several risk factors that promote this health-damaging phenotype, including infections, physical inactivity, poor diet, environmental and industrial toxicants and psychological stress. Furthermore, we suggest potential strategies for advancing the early diagnosis, prevention and treatment of SCI. Systemic chronic inflammation increases with age and is linked to the development of several diseases, as presented in this Perspective.