Heterogeneity of changes in lymphoproliferative ability with increasing age.
Although mean mitogen-induced lymphoproliferation decreases with increased age, the response of individual subjects demonstrates great heterogeneity. Results of this study clearly illustrate that individual variation is apparent not only in the level of proliferation, but also in the amount of interleukin-2 (IL-2) detectable after mitogen stimulation. Further, addition of exogenous IL-2 significantly increases proliferation in only about one third of elderly subjects. Data from inbred strains of rats housed under identical environmental conditions indicate that although genetic factors greatly influence both the level of proliferation and the rate of decline with age, variation occurs even within one inbred strain of rat.
Department of Microbiology, Medical College of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19129.
D M
DM
Murasko
B J
BJ
Nelson
D
D
Matour
I M
IM
Goonewardene
D
D
Kaye
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011914:Rats, Inbred BN; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344
D007376:Interleukin-2; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins