Immunoregulatory cells in aging mice. I. Concanavalin A-induced and naturally occurring suppressor cells.
The status of concanavalin A (Con A)-triggered suppressor cells in aging mice was assessed in relation to untreated cells. Spleen cells of (C3H/ebJ X C57BL/6J)F1 and (BALB/cJ X C57BL/6J)F1 aging (20-41 months' old) and young (2-3 months' old) mice were triggered with Con A and examined for their capacity to suppress lymphocyte proliferative responses elicited by mitogens (Con A and phytohemagglutinin), by mixed lymphocyte reactions or by human gamma-globulin. Con A-triggered cells of the aging mice were found to be less efficient suppressors than those of the young, yet the aging mouse spleen cells exerted a more potent suppressive effect than the young, a priori, without pretreatment. Hence, the immune system in aging is characterized by a change in suppressor cell types; the Con A-triggered suppressors diminish and the naturally occurring, untreated ones become abundant.
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D005719:gamma-Globulins / Q000276:immunology
D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D005719:gamma-Globulins; D003208:Concanavalin A