title: Interleukin-2 and aging: decreased interleukin-2 production in healthy older people does not correlate with reduced helper cell numbers or antibody response to influenza vaccine and is not corrected in vitro by thymosin alpha 1.
abstract: The capacity of lymphocytes obtained from healthy young or old volunteers to produce interleukin-2 was measured and the results were compared with other measures of immune function. The in vitro effect of thymosin alpha 1 on interleukin-2 production was also measured. Interleukin-2 was lower in lymphocytes from the elderly, and individuals with low production also had lower proliferative responses in vitro to phytohemagglutinin. These individuals did not have a reduced helper T-cell number, abnormal ratio of helper to suppressor T-cells or reduced antibody production in response to vaccine. Thymosin alpha 1 did not have a consistent effect on interleukin-2 production.
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Ershler
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Roessner
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Ranges
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer; D000077596:Thymalfasin; D013947:Thymosin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D013947:Thymosin; D000077596:Thymalfasin