title: Age-related changes in lymphokine production related to a decreased number of CD45RBhi CD4+ T cells.
abstract: The ability of CD4+ T cells from CBA/Rij mice to produce interleukin (IL) 2 after stimulation with anti-CD3, concanavalin A, or the combination of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and ionomycin declines during aging. This phenomenon was accompanied by an increased production of IL 4 and interferon-gamma. These age-related changes in lymphokine production correlated with the decrease in the percentage of CD45RBhi CD4+ T cells from about 80% in 2-month-old to about 40% in 27-month-old mice. This phenotypic shift was responsible for the decline in IL 2 production, because in young and in old mice CD45RBhi CD4+ T cells were more potent IL 2 producers than CD45RBlo cells. Moreover, old CD45RBhi CD4+ T cells produced less IL 2 than their young counterparts. Proliferative responses by T cells from old mice were lower than those of young mice, regardless whether the cultures were supplemented with IL 2, IL 4 or both lymphokines. As far as CD4+ T cells were concerned, this hyporesponsiveness was found in the CD45RBlo as well as in the CD45RBhi CD4+ T cell population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Institute for Experimental Gerontology TNO, Rijswijk, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nagelkerken
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hertogh-Huijbregts
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dobber
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dräger
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000502:physiology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA
chemical_list: D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D016207:Cytokines; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens