Decline, with age, in the proportion of mouse T cells that express IL-2 receptors after mitogen stimulation.
Receptors for IL-2 can be demonstrated on the majority of mouse splenic T cells within 48 h after stimulation with Concanavalin A. We show here that aging leads to a decline in the frequency of cells able to generate detectable levels of IL-2 receptor, as measured by cytofluorimetry using antibodies to the receptor. The age-associated deficit cannot be overcome either by increasing the mitogen dose, or by supplementing the cultures with exogenous IL-2. At least a part of the decline, with age, in T cell-mediated immunity may represent an inability of individual T cells to produce sufficient IL-2 receptor to enable them to reach the IL-2 dependent phases of their first cell cycle.
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000032:analysis*; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology
D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D003208:Concanavalin A