title: The immune response in aged C57BL/6 mice. II. Characterization and reversal of a defect in the ability of aged spleen cells to respond to the adjuvant properties of Fc fragments.
abstract: Fc fragments derived from papain cleavage of human Ig were found to be unable to enhance the in vitro anti-SRBC response of aged mice. The inability of aged spleen cells to respond to the adjuvant properties of Fc fragments is localized to the aged T cell population. The addition of Fc fragments to cultures of aged B cells and young adult T cells, but not young adult B cells and aged T cells, resulted in an enhanced anti-SRBC response. The Fc fragment adjuvant defect in spleen cells from aged mice can be reversed by the addition of IL 2 to culture. The addition of either Fc fragments alone or IL 2 alone with antigen to intact aged spleen cell populations did not result in an enhanced anti-SRBC response. When aged spleen cell cultures receive both Fc and IL 2, however, a marked enhancement is observed. These data indicate that IL 2 action on aged spleen cells results in the acquisition of reactivity to Fc adjuvant action by aged mice.
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D007141:Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments / Q000276:immunology*; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000276:immunology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D007141:Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments; D007376:Interleukin-2