title: Influence of age and caloric restriction on macrophage IL-6 and TNF production.
abstract: Aging is correlated with a plethora of immunological changes resulting in both decreased immunity to exogenous antigens and increased autoreactivity. Immunosenescence is generally believed to primarily affect the B- and T-cell compartments, leaving macrophage (M phi) function relatively intact. However, several recent reports show diminished presentation of certain antigens and decline in interleukin 1 (IL-1) production by aged M phi s suggesting the need for more extensive assessment of M phi function. In the present study we demonstrate that aged murine M phi s show diminished IL-6 and TNF production. In addition, we show that dietary caloric restriction, a regimen which extends life span and improves many immunological functions, has no effect on the declining TNF production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, UCLA School of Medicine, California 90024.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Effros
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Svoboda
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Walford
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000502:physiology; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha