CD69, CD25, and HLA-DR activation antigen expression on CD3+ lymphocytes and relationship to serum TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, and sIL-2R levels in aging.
Aging is associated with changes in lymphocyte subsets and unexplained HLA-DR upregulation on T-lymphocytes. We further investigated this activation, by measuring early (CD69), middle (CD25), and late (HLA-DR) T-lymphocyte activation markers on CD3+ lymphocytes, across subjects (20-100 years) together with serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R). HLA-DR was present as a CD3+ HLA-DR+ subset that constituted 8% of total lymphocytes, increased twofold with age and included CD4+, CD8+, and CD45RA+ phenotypes. HLA-DR was also expressed on a CD8+ CD57+ subset. The CD3+ CD25+ subset constituted 13% of lymphocytes, fell with age but was weakly associated with the CD3+ HLA-DR+ subset especially in older subjects. A small 3-5% CD3+ CD69+ subsets showed no age effect. Serum sIL-2R, TNF-alpha, but not IFN-gamma, were associated with CD3+ HLA-DR+ lymphocytes, TNF-alpha with CD8+ CD57+ count and sIL-2R and IFN-gamma with the CD3+ CD25+/CD3+ CD4+ ratio. The study confirms age-related upregulation of HLA-DR on CD3+ lymphocytes, shows some evidence for associated upregulation of CD25 on CD3+ cells in older subjects, and links serum TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, and sIL2-R to T-lymphocyte activation.
Rea
I M
IM
Department of Geriatric Medicine, The Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK. i.rea@qub.ac.uk
McNerlan
S E
SE
Alexander
H D
HD
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis*; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis*; D000099192:CD69 Antigens
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D017252:CD3 Complex; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000099192:CD69 Antigens