Corticosteroid receptors and aging.
We have measured plasma aldosterone, plasma cortisol, and glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors in mononuclear leukocytes in 54 healthy aged subjects (60-97 years old) and in a group of 21 controls (21-50 years old). In addition all parameters and age were plotted for correlation. Plasma cortisol was significantly higher in the aged group (346 +/- 140 nmol/l) than in controls (260 +/- 120). Mean plasma aldosterone was not different in the two groups. Both Type I and II receptors in mononuclear leukocytes were lower in the aged group than in controls (Type I 198 +/- 96 and 272 +/- 97 receptors per cell; Type II 1738 +/- 801 and 3339 +/- 918 receptors per cell). A direct correlation was found between cortisol and age and between Type I and II receptors in aged subjects, and between cortisol and Type I receptors, and cortisol and Type II receptors in controls. When all subjects are plotted together, a direct correlation was observed between cortisol and age and between Type I and II receptors, and an inverse correlation between age and Type I and age and Type II receptors. We conclude that the parallel reduction of both Type I and II receptors with age is not due to prior cortisol increase, but the increase of plasma cortisol can be considered the result of age-dependent involution of these receptors.
Armanini
D
D
Istituto Semeiotica Medica, University of Padua, Italy.
Scali
M
M
Vittadello
G
G
Ribecco
M
M
Zampollo
V
V
Pratesi
C
C
Orlandini
E
E
Zovato
S
S
Zennaro
C M
CM
Karbowiak
I
I
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood*; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000097:blood; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D008901:Mineralocorticoids / Q000097:blood; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000378:metabolism*
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D008901:Mineralocorticoids; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D000450:Aldosterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone