Assessing immune function to support prevention and healthy aging
IMMUNEBALANCE
A scientific evaluation of immune cell subsets and Vitamin D status to detect early signs of dysregulation and guide personalized preventive strategies.
Human health is constantly challenged by infections, stressors, and environmental exposures. The immune system counteracts these threats, but with age its efficiency may decline. Subtle, age-related changes—inflammaging and immunosenescence—can increase vulnerability to infections, chronic inflammation, autoimmune phenomena, and cancer.
IMMUNEBALANCE is the Bioscience Institute test designed to capture early signs of immune aging—even in apparently healthy individuals—so you can act proactively to preserve long-term wellbeing.
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The Immune System at a Glance
The immune system functions through two main defense lines that interact closely. Understanding how these components work together helps explain how immune balance can be maintained throughout life.
- Innate immunity (e.g., monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells, NK cells) provides rapid, non-specific defense and shapes the inflammatory milieu.
- Adaptive immunity (T and B lymphocytes) is slower but specific and long-lasting thanks to memory cells. Lifelong immune stimulation can reduce the “space” for new lymphocytes, impairing responses to novel threats (typical in chronic viral infections such as CMV).
Key Cell Populations
- T lymphocytes
CD4⁺ helper T cells coordinate responses; CD8⁺ cytotoxic T cells eliminate infected or tumor cells. With aging, total T cells and thymic output decline; inversion of the CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio (immune risk phenotype, often CMV-related) correlates with poorer outcomes. - B lymphocytes
Produce antibodies and modulate inflammation. Their bone-marrow production decreases with age, especially in chronic inflammatory states. - NK cells
Crucial for antiviral and antitumor surveillance. Aging shifts NK subsets (↓CD56^bright, ↑CD56⁻CD16⁺) and reduces cytotoxicity, which is linked to higher morbidity and mortality. - Monocytes
Ageing increases CD16⁺ subsets (non-classical/intermediate), associated with chronic inflammatory diseases; targeted lifestyle and nutritional interventions can revert these shifts.
Vitamin D and Immune Regulation
Vitamin D modulates both innate and adaptive immunity (antioxidant effects in monocytes, antimicrobial activity in macrophages, tolerogenic dendritic cells, regulation of NK, B and T cells). Deficiency is common—especially with aging—and is associated with infections and autoimmunity; supplementation can support immune balance.
Why Evaluate Immune Balance?
The immune system ages differently in each person, depending on genetics, infections, lifestyle, and accumulated stressors. Even when laboratory values appear normal, subtle alterations in immune cell subsets may already signal the onset of inflammaging or immunosenescence — the twin processes linking aging with inflammation and reduced defense capacity.
Evaluating immune balance helps identify these early changes before they translate into chronic inflammation or increased disease susceptibility. This proactive approach enables personalized prevention strategies aimed at preserving immune efficiency, supporting longevity, and maintaining overall health as we age.
What the Test Evaluates
IMMUNEBALANCE provides a functional snapshot of immune regulation by assessing:
- Flow cytometry of immune cell subpopulations (T-cell subsets including CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio, B cells, NK cells; monocyte subsets including CD14/CD16 profiling).
- Vitamin D (25-OH) status, a key modulator of immune tolerance and inflammation.
Results indicate whether the immune system operates within an optimal physiological range or shows signs of chronic activation/exhaustion consistent with age-related immune drift.
Clinical Indications - Who can benefit
Recommended for individuals who wish to monitor immune health, especially in case of:
- recurrent infections, chronic fatigue, unexplained inflammation;
- family/personal history of autoimmune conditions;
- high psychosocial stress, poor diet, or sedentary lifestyle;
- midlife and older adults seeking healthy-aging prevention;
- post-illness recovery or suspected CMV impact on T-cell balance.
How the Test Is Performed
The IMMUNEBALANCE test is performed through a simple blood draw that evaluates immune cell populations and Vitamin D levels.
Samples are analyzed in Bioscience Institute laboratories using advanced cytometric and biochemical methods to quantify key immune markers.
The process provides a comprehensive view of immune status, helping detect early signs of imbalance even in apparently healthy individuals.
- Sampling & transport kit order – the at-home kit is prepared and dispatched.
- Sampling and shipment to the lab – blood is collected and sent using the dedicated transport system
- Sample preparation – processing for immunophenotyping and Vitamin D testing.
- Flow cytometry analysis – quantification of immune cell subpopulations (T, B, NK; monocyte subsets).
- Vitamin D test – measurement of 25-OH Vitamin D levels.
- Data analysis & report processing – expert interpretation with comments and recommendations.
In-depth Information
Would you like to explore further or learn more? Access comprehensive explanations by expanding the sections below.
WHAT ARE THE KEY COMPONENTS OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM?
T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes and NK cells
T lymphocytes are white blood cells that participate in acquired immunity. CD4 + T lymphocytes react to the presence of bacteria, fungi, and viruses by activating and recruiting other immune cells. CD8 + T lymphocytes, on the other hand, recognize and directly kill virus-infected cells and cancer cells.
B lymphocytes, on the other hand, are the immune cells responsible for producing antibodies. They can also play a role in the activation of T lymphocytes and secrete substances capable of modulating inflammation.
Natural Killer (NK) cells can also activate other immune cells and produce molecules that control inflammation. Involved in both innate and acquired immunity, they can destroy virus-infected cells and cancer cells.
Monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells
Produced in the bone marrow, monocytes circulate in the blood, through which they can reach damaged or infected tissues, and can differentiate into macrophages and dendritic cells.
Once activated, they control inflammation by both promoting and resolving it. They can also incorporate cells or toxic substances to be eliminated.
Vitamin D and the immune system
Vitamin D is a key prohormone to promote the proper functioning of the immune system. Its action is complex and involves both innate and acquired immunity. The result is the promotion of a state of greater tolerogenicity.
In monocytes, it has an antioxidant action, inhibits the production of inflammatory molecules, and appears to regulate the response to antigens at the epigenetic level.
In macrophages, it mediates the production of antimicrobial molecules and exerts an anti-inflammatory action.
In dendritic cells, it modulates the production of molecules involved in inflammation.
It regulates the activity of NK cells.
It acts on other white blood cells, the neutrophils, reducing the risk of autoimmune reactions and damage induced by pathogens.
It influences the activity of B and T lymphocytes, promoting the increase of anti-inflammatory molecules and the reduction of proinflammatory molecules, immune responses, and autoimmune reactions.
HOW DOES THE IMMUNE SYSTEM CHANGE WITH AGE?
T lymphocytes
With advancing age, the total number of T lymphocytes can significantly decrease. However, even in the absence of significant changes in their levels, the risk of contracting infections or developing diseases typically associated with aging (such as tumors) increases due to the reduction in the space available for new immune cells. In fact, senescent T lymphocytes, more resistant to cell death, tend to accumulate, while the production of new T lymphocytes and their ability to differentiate into mature cells decreases.
Both T lymphocyte populations – helper T cells (CD4 +) and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CD8 +) – can decrease. However, of particular concern is the inversion of the CD4 + / CD8 + ratio, a characteristic of a condition typically associated with aging – the so-called immune risk phenotype (IRP) – considered an indicator of an increased health risk. Indeed, high percentages of CD8 + T cells, combined with low levels of CD4 + T cells and poor proliferation of T cells in peripheral blood, are associated with a significant increase in mortality in the elderly population.
The CD4 + / CD8 + ratio can also be altered by viral infections, including Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections. In fact, being positive for CMV is one of the most important causes of aging of the immune system. The virus, which remains in the body for life after the first infection, chronically stimulates CD8 + T lymphocytes, promoting their increase. As a result, CD4 + T lymphocytes decrease. Although a large part of the adult population is positive for CMV, few are aware of it. Analysis of the CD4 + / CD8 + ratio can provide significant information on the state of the immune system, revealing unsuspected compromises.
B lymphocytes
Levels of B lymphocytes vary significantly throughout life. Immediately after birth, their total number doubles, and then remain stable until the age of 2, when it begins to gradually decrease to the typical values of adulthood. From this moment their levels stabilize until, with aging, the production of B lymphocytes in the bone marrow decreases significantly. In particular, chronic inflammation associated with aging can inhibit the production of new B lymphocytes.
NK cells
The reduction in NK cell cytotoxicity is associated with an increase in morbidity and mortality. Conversely, an active NK cell population is associated with longevity and good health.
Aging is characterized by an increase in NK cells in the blood, but from the age of 50 their production decreases; this suggests that the elderly population is characterized by a higher percentage of “aged” NK cells. CD56bright NK cells, corresponding to the less mature form, decrease; this causes a compensatory increase in the production of molecules involved in inflammation. At the same time, there is an increase in CD56-CD16+ NK cells, in turn characterized by an altered production of the molecules that control inflammation.
The reduction in NK cell cytotoxicity is associated with an increase in morbidity and mortality. Conversely, an active NK cell population is associated with longevity and good health.
Aging is characterized by an increase in NK cells in the blood, but from the age of 50 their production decreases; this suggests that the elderly population is characterized by a higher percentage of “aged” NK cells. CD56bright NK cells, corresponding to the less mature form, decrease; this causes a compensatory increase in the production of molecules involved in inflammation. At the same time, there is an increase in CD56-CD16+ NK cells, in turn characterized by an altered production of the molecules that control inflammation.
Monocytes
In healthy people, about 95% of monocytes are represented by the “classic” form, characterized by a high expression of the CD14 marker and the absence of the expression of the CD16 marker (CD14++ CD16-). From the age of 50, however, the subpopulation of “non-classical” CD14+ CD16+ monocytes begin to increase. At the same time, however, their functionality decreases, while their ability to produce proinflammatory molecules increases.
After the age of 60, the reduction of classical monocytes is significant. At more advanced age, non-classical monocytes also decrease, while another subpopulation of CD16+ cells increases, the “intermediate” CD14 ++ CD16+ monocytes. The increase in CD16+ monocyte subpopulations (non-classical and intermediate) correlates with the development of diseases associated with chronic inflammation (such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, arthritis and inflammatory bowel diseases). However, this increase can be effectively countered. In the case of obesity, for example, both dietary intervention and bariatric surgery make it possible to reduce the levels of CD16+ monocytes.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D deficiencies are associated with increased susceptibility to infections and the prevalence of autoimmune diseases. Conversely, avoiding them promotes a better functioning of the immune system.
Unfortunately, the low availability of food-borne vitamin D, combined with poor production following exposure to sunlight, means that up to 40% of the adult population may find themselves struggling with a deficiency. Aging further increases this risk, bringing with it others: fractures, infections, cardiovascular diseases, diabetic retinopathy, migraines, tumors and frailty.
Supplements is an effective strategy to correct these deficiencies and promote the proper functioning of the immune system. The daily intake of vitamin D, for example, has been associated with protection from acute respiratory infections
