Human B cell function in normal individuals of various ages. 1. In vitro enumeration of pokeweed-induced peripheral blood lymphocyte immunoglobulin-synthesizing cells and the comparison of the results with numbers of peripheral B and T cells, mitogen responses, and levels of serum immunoglobulins.
The effect of age on the in vitro generation of immunoglobulin-secreting cells in pokeweed mitogen-stimulated cultures was examined using a staphylococcal protein A plaque assay. Although there was no statistically significant decrease with age in the numbers of plaque-forming cells, subjects whose cells failed to produce immunoglobulin were four times more common amongst individuals over 55 years of age. Simultaneously-measured T and B lymphocyte numbers. 3H-thymidine incorporation by mitogen-stimulated cultures, and serum immunoglobulins were comparable in both the young and the aged.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000032:analysis; D012397:Rosette Formation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D007136:Immunoglobulins; D008934:Mitogens; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell