title: E-rosettes in aging: meta-analysis of the literature.
abstract: In this meta-analysis of the literature, it is affirmed that aging is associated with a small but significant decline in peripheral E-rosette-forming cells while high affinity E-rosettes (active or early rosettes) increase. The author speculates that this differential age effect may reflect the abnormal capping behaviour of E-rosettes or a change in the cell surface charge properties. A type II error is a common trait of the reviewed studies and could well explain the great number of reports concluding that E-rosette-forming cells are unaltered in the elderly.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D012107:Research Design; D012397:Rosette Formation