title: Expression of interleukin 2 and the interleukin 2 receptor in aging rats.
abstract: Lymphocytes of aged animals exhibit a marked decrease in proliferative capacity in response to mitogen stimulation when compared to those of younger animals. In humans and mice the decreased proliferation is due at least in part (i) to the inability of lymphocytes to synthesize sufficient interleukin 2 (IL-2) and (ii) to decreased expression of IL-2 receptors (IL-2R) on the surface of aged lymphocytes. We compared proliferative abilities, IL-2 production, and IL-2R expression in splenocyte cultures of 4- to 5- and 22- to 24-month-old Fischer 344 rats stimulated with either concanavalin A (Con A) or A23187 and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). Proliferation was significantly decreased in aged lymphocytes (30-50%) with both treatment protocols. However, unlike mice and humans we observed no difference in IL-2 activity, IL-2 mRNA levels, or IL-2R cell surface expression of lymphocytes from young and aged rats stimulated with either Con A or A23187 and PMA. These results indicate that factors other than decreased expression of IL-2 and IL-2R are responsible for the diminished proliferative capacity of aged rat lymphocytes following mitogen stimulation.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, Maryland 21224.
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Holbrook
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Chopra
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: McCoy
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Nagel
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Powers
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Adler
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Schneider
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D000001:Calcimycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D003208:Concanavalin A; D000001:Calcimycin; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate