The effect of age on mitogen responsive T cell precursors in human beings is completely restored by interleukin-2.
It is well known that the function of T lymphocytes is significantly impaired by advancing age. In the present study, attempts have been made to further characterize the T cell impairment of elderly subjects. Thus, we have performed limiting dilution microculture analysis to evaluate the precursor frequency of T lymphocytes responding to a mitogenic stimulus in old and young subjects. Furthermore we have evaluated the activity of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) on these cells. The results demonstrate that in older subjects the frequency of these precursors is significantly decreased. The in vitro treatment with rIL-2 increased the frequency of mitogen responsive T lymphocyte precursors in both groups so that the difference between the two groups was not significant. Thus present results extend the findings demonstrating that older subjects display an impairment of T cell functions and that IL-2 treatment may correct these alterations. In particular, they confirm the hypothesis that age-associated functional changes are more likely due to diminished numbers of reactive cells, than to a decline in the activity of all cells.
Candore
G
G
Instituto di Patologia generale, Universita di Palermo, Italy.
Di Lorenzo
G
G
Caruso
C
C
Modica
M A
MA
Colucci
A T
AT
Crescimanno
G
G
Ingrassia
A
A
Sangiorgi
G B
GB
Salerno
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D007376:Interleukin-2; D003208:Concanavalin A