Accessory function and properties of monocytes from healthy elderly humans for T lymphocyte responses to mitogen and antigen.
The waning of cell-mediated immunity during aging has been attributed primarily to defects in T lymphocyte properties and functions. We assessed the potential contribution of accessory dysfunction of monocytes from the elderly on responses of T cells to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and to tetanus toxoid after in vivo boosting. Accessory function of monocytes from the elderly subjects for T lymphocyte responses to tetanus toxoid was comparable to the young. Expression of the cytokines interleukin-1, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor, the cell adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and LFA-3 and the class II major histocompatibility molecule HLA-DR by monocytes from the elderly and young subjects was similar. T lymphocytes from the elderly responded poorly to PHA. Monocytes from the elderly had a decreased accessory function for PHA-stimulated T cells from young, third donors. Thus, although many accessory properties of monocytes from the elderly are normal, the monocyte and T lymphocyte defects in the elderly for mitogen may represent interactive factors in cell-mediated immunity during aging.
Department of Medicine, University Hospitals of Cleveland, OH 44106.
E A
EA
Rich
M A
MA
Mincek
K B
KB
Armitage
E G
EG
Duffy
D C
DC
Owen
J D
JD
Fayen
D L
DL
Hom
J J
JJ
Ellner
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D001681:Biological Assay; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012016:Reference Values; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000494:pharmacology*
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D016207:Cytokines; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid