title: Age-related changes in T cell function.
abstract: A comparison was made of the abilities of carrier (BGG)-primed T cell populations from young (4-month old), middle-aged (14- and 19-month old) and old (31- and 34-month old) mice to collaborate with hapten (DNP)-primed B cells from young mice in a cell-transfer system. The plaque-forming cell responses to 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) were measured by a modification of the Jerne plaque assay. The DNP-specific antibody-forming cell responses of old T cell/young B cell combinations were significantly lower than those of young T cell/young B cell combinations, both in the number of T cells needed for peak response and in the size of that response. These data indicate that the primed T cell populations of old mice are deficient by a factor of 6 in their ability to initiate B cell proliferation and differentiation into antibody-forming cells.
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000941:Antigens; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000494:pharmacology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D004136:Dinitrobenzenes; D005260:Female; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051379:Mice; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005719:gamma-Globulins
chemical_list: D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000941:Antigens; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D004136:Dinitrobenzenes; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D005719:gamma-Globulins