Immune responses of healthy humans 83-104 years of age.
The immune responses of 19 healthy people 83-104 years of age were compared to those of younger healthy persons. A decline in mitogen response to concanavalin A and pokeweed mitogen, but not to phytohemagglutinin, was observed. Positive skin test to two recall antigens occurred in only 5 of the 19 aged people; 4 of these 5 reported a history of blood transfusion. Antibody titers were elevated for persistent DNA viruses but not for RNA viruses. An excess of ABO blood type B was found, but no human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A or HLA-B type was found in elevated proportion.
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System / Q000276:immunology; D000368:Aged; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D004267:DNA Viruses / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008934:Mitogens; D012328:RNA Viruses / Q000276:immunology; D012882:Skin Tests
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D008934:Mitogens