Age-related changes of splenic T cells in mice--a flow cytometric analysis.
Splenic T cells of C57BL/6 mice, ranging in age from newborn to 24 months old, were examined by two-colour flow cytometry using monoclonal antibodies (moAbs) to Thy-1, Lyt-1, Lyt-2 and L3T4. Thy-1+ cells in the spleen increased gradually after the birth, and reached a plateau around at 3 months of age, but did not show a significant age-related decline even at 24 months of age. Lyt subpopulations of T cells (Lyt-1+2+, Lyt-1+2-, Lyt-1-2+) showed a proportional increase until 1 month of age, but the onset of their imbalance was observed as early as 3 months of age. The percentage of L3T4+ subpopulation stayed at a relatively constant level throughout life (approx. 55%). At the individual cell level, Lyt-2 antigen was most vulnerable to aging and its membrane surface density showed a prominent decrease in 24-month-old T cells. An apparent decline was observed in the mitogen reactivity and cell-mediated cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity of old T cells or their subpopulations which were purified by the cell sorter.
D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000950:Antigens, Ly / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000950:Antigens, Ly; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens