Immunological parameters in aging: studies on natural immunomodulatory and immunoprotective substances.
Several immune parameters--particularly T-cell dependent immune responses--are altered in aged subjects. To test the hypothesis that they may be the consequence of more general age-related lymphocyte biochemical alterations, and particularly of the energy producing system, the effect of L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine on cell proliferation was studied in peripheral blood lymphocytes from donors of different ages. The results showed that phytohaemagglutinin-induced peripheral blood lymphocyte proliferation was markedly increased in L-carnitine- or acetyl-L-carnitine-preloaded lymphocytes from young and especially from old subjects. Cells from aged subjects considerably improved their defective proliferative capability. Preliminary observations suggest that L-carnitine-preloading also protected peripheral blood lymphocytes from old donors when such cells were exposed to an oxidative stress.
Franceschi
C
C
Institute of General Pathology, University of Modena, Italy.
Cossarizza
A
A
Troiano
L
L
Salati
R
R
Monti
D
D
D000108:Acetylcarnitine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D002331:Carnitine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005609:Free Radicals; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*
D005609:Free Radicals; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D000108:Acetylcarnitine; D002331:Carnitine