title: Immune dysfunction in the elderly: effect of thymic hormone administration on several in vivo and in vitro immune function parameters.
abstract: The effects of short-term thymic hormone administration on age-associated immune function were evaluated. Two groups of individuals greater than 65 years of age were treated for 30 days with thymic extracts (TP1) or placebo; before and after this treatment a panel of in vitro and in vivo parameters was determined according to a very rigorous experimental protocol. In most individuals, TP1 treatment was associated with an improvement in cutaneous delayed-type response to PPD. Moreover, an increase in a circulating T cell subpopulation bearing the CD45R surface antigen ("virgin" T cells), and in NK cell cytotoxic activity was also observed in some subjects. Finally, lymphocyte responsiveness to PHA tended to increase, while no effect on lymphocyte ability to produce IL-2 following mitogen stimulation was observed. These findings suggest that TP1 treatment may influence age-related alterations in immune function parameters in some subjects.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Fagiolo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amadori
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Borghesan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zamarchi
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Veronese
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Silvestro
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Passarella
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Crepaldi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007154:Immune System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology; D013951:Thymus Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014373:Tuberculin / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D007376:Interleukin-2; D008934:Mitogens; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D013951:Thymus Hormones; D014373:Tuberculin