Influenza (flu) infection increases the risk for disability, falls, and broken bones in older adults. We have employed a preclinical model to examine the impact of flu on muscle function, which has a direct impact on fall risk. In mice, flu causes mobility and strength impairments with induction of inflammatory and muscle degradation genes that are increased and prolonged with aging. To determine if vaccination could reduce flu-induced muscle decrements, mice were vaccinated with flu nucleoprotein, infected, and muscle parameters were measured. Vaccination of aged mice resulted in significant protection from functional decrements, muscle gene expressions alterations, and morphological damage. Vaccination also improved protection from lung localized and systemic inflammation in aged mice. Despite documented decreased vaccine efficacy with aging, vaccination still provided partial protection to aged mice and represents a potential strategy to prevent flu-induced disability. These findings provide translational insight on ways to reduce flu-induced disability with aging.

流感（流感）感染会增加老年人的残疾，跌倒和骨折的风险。我们采用了临床前模型来检查流感对肌肉功能的影响，这对跌倒风险具有直接影响。在小鼠中，流感会导致活动性和强度受损，并诱发炎症和肌肉降解基因，而衰老会增加并延长基因。为了确定疫苗接种是否可以减少流感引起的肌肉减少，对小鼠接种了流感核蛋白，进行了感染，并测量了肌肉参数。老年小鼠的疫苗接种可有效防止功能下降，肌肉基因表达改变和形态损害。疫苗接种还改善了对老年小鼠的肺局部和全身炎症的保护作用。尽管有文献记载，随着年龄的增长疫苗效力会降低，疫苗接种仍为老年小鼠提供了部分保护，代表了预防流感引起的残疾的潜在策略。这些发现为减少因衰老导致的流感引起的残疾的方法提供了翻译的见解。