CD11b+ cells, which include granulocytes, monocytes, DCs, and NK cells, play a critical role in pathogen recognition, antigen presentation, cytokine regulation, etc. With aging, these cells experience functional decline, including impaired type I interferon (IFN) responses and dysregulated cytokine secretions, which disrupts immune homeostasis and exacerbates inflammaging, leaving older individuals more vulnerable to infections (Ajoolabady et al. 2024). Here, ITGAM is linked to infection.