title: Autoimmunity and T-cell subpopulations in old age.
abstract: To investigate the interrelationship between T-cell-dependent immune functions and autoimmune phenomena in old age we determined T-cell subpopulations in 20 aged healthy individuals (80-96 years old) using monoclonal antibodies. These persons were also investigated as to humoral parameters such as antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factors (IgG-, IgA-, IgM-RF), antibodies to collagen types I-IV as well as autoantibodies to organ-specific antigens. In addition, immune complexes were determined. We found that aged individuals have an increased frequency of autoantibodies as compared to a young control population, each aged subject presenting with at least one autoantibody species. Immune complexes, however, were only rarely detected. Three individuals showed a slightly increased T-helper/T-suppressor cell ratio, four had a decreased ratio. An increased number of T-suppressor cells was significantly correlated with a lowered incidence of anticollagen antibodies. Other parameters tested by us: fibronectin, laminin, procollagen type III, C3 and C4 complement components, immunoglobulins and acid alpha 1-glycoprotein. Aged individuals have significantly higher serum levels of fibronectin, while laminin and procollagen concentrations are in the normal range. A large percentage of old individuals had increased serum levels of C3 and/or C4. The acute phase protein orosomucoid, however, was in the normal range.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology, University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Menzel
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Zlabinger
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dunky
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Steffen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000276:immunology; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D003094:Collagen / Q000276:immunology; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology; D011347:Procollagen / Q000276:immunology; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D001323:Autoantibodies; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011347:Procollagen; C041876:procollagen Type III-N-terminal peptide; D003094:Collagen; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor