Non-specific immunity in aging: deficiency of monocyte and polymorphonuclear cell-mediated functions.
Peripheral blood monocytes obtained from 55 aged donors were evaluated for their chemotactic and phagocytic capacity. In the same subjects, polymorphonuclear cell-mediated functions were studied by chemotaxis, phagocytosis, nylon fiber adherence and nitroblue-tetrazolium reduction assay. Monocytes showed a normal chemotactic responsiveness to zymosan-activated serum, while the chemotactic activity induced by leukocyte-derived chemotactic factor and phagocytosis were rather depressed. A dramatic impairment of polymorphonuclear cell-mediated immune response was also observed. In fact, in spite of a normal nylon fiber adherence, chemotaxis, phagocytosis and nitroblue-tetrazolium reduction capacity were significantly depressed by the aging process. These data suggest that the deficiency of non-specific immunity may play an important role in the increased susceptibility to infections in aged donors.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D019744:Chemokines, C; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology*; D010587:Phagocytosis; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000494:pharmacology
D019744:Chemokines, C; D008222:Lymphokines; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins; C092390:XCL1 protein, human; C018997:lymphotactin