[Immunological responses in the aged with bacterial infection].
The effect of bacterial infection on immunologic parameters was investigated in the elderly, with special reference to natural killer (NK) cells. The parameters studied were percentage of lymphocyte subsets, interleukin-2 concentration and NK cytotoxicity. In the bacterial infection group (n = 15), there were several changes in the immunological parameters when compared with the healthy aged control group (n = 42): decreased in the lymphocyte number, decreased percentage of CD4+ cells resulting a lower CD4+/CD8+ ratio, diminished NK activity without a change in the percentage of NKH-1+ cells, and increased CD25+ cells which consisted mainly of CD25+ NKH-1+ cells. These changes recovered in all patients examined (n = 7) following resolution of the infection. Decreased NK activity, although transient, may be related to be susceptible to infection or to be prolonged course of infectious diseases in the elderly.
Fukayama
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M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D007376:Interleukin-2