title: Immunological parameters in aging: studies on natural immunomodulatory and immunoprotective substances.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of General Pathology, University of Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Franceschi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cossarizza
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Troiano
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Salati
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Monti
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D005609:Free Radicals; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D000108:Acetylcarnitine; D002331:Carnitine