title: Immune parameters in a longitudinal study of a very old population of Swedish people: a comparison between survivors and nonsurvivors.
abstract: As a part of an ongoing longitudinal investigation, this study examined relationships between survival and selected immune system parameters in a sample (n = 102) of very old individuals (86-92 years at the time of initial immune system data collection). Analyses were performed comparing initial time-point measurements from those individuals who were alive (n = 75) and those who were deceased (n = 27) two years after initial data collection. Immune system measurements consisted of determination of peripheral blood lymphocytes and lymphocyte subsets, as well as T-cell responses to activation by Concanavalin A. Cluster analysis identified a subgroup associated with nonsurvival which indicated characteristics that included: poor T-cell proliferative responses, high CD8 percentages, and low CD4 and CD19 percentages. This multivariate analysis suggested that combinations of immune system parameters predict two-year survival otherwise not apparent when single immune system parameters were evaluated in the elderly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Science, Pennsylvania State University, USA.
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wikby
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maxson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olsson
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Johansson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D018655:Lymphocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D017741:Survivors; D013548:Sweden; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D003208:Concanavalin A