Hemopoiesis in healthy old people and centenarians: well-maintained responsiveness of CD34+ cells to hemopoietic growth factors and remodeling of cytokine network.
In vitro hemopoiesis and hemopoietic cytokines production were evaluated in 9 centenarians (median age 100.5 years, age range: 100-104 years), 10 old people (median age: 71 years, age range: 66-73 years), and 10 young people (median age: 35 years, age range: 30-45 years), all carefully selected for their healthy status. The main findings were the following: (i) a trend towards a decreased absolute number of CD34+ progenitor cells in the peripheral blood of old people and centenarians, in comparison to young subjects; (ii) a well-preserved capability of CD34+ cells from old people and centenarians to respond to hemopoietic cytokines, and to form erythroid (BFU-E), granulocyte-macrophagic (CFU-GM), and mixed colonies (CFU-GEMM) in a way (number, size, and morphology) indistinguishable from that of young subjects; (iii) an age-related decreased in vitro production of granulocyte-macrophagic colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and a decreased production of interleukin-3 (IL-3) in centenarians by phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC); (iv) a linear increase of the serum level of stem cell factor (SCF), measured in the above-mentioned subjects and in 65 additional subjects, including 4 centenarians. These data suggest that basal hematopoietic potential is well preserved in healthy centenarians, and that the hemopoietic cytokine network undergoes a complex remodeling with age.
Bagnara
G P
GP
Institute of Histology and Interdepartmental Center for Cancer Research, University of Bologna, Italy.
Bonsi
L
L
Strippoli
P
P
Bonifazi
F
F
Tonelli
R
R
D'Addato
S
S
Paganelli
R
R
Scala
E
E
Fagiolo
U
U
Monti
D
D
Cossarizza
A
A
Bonafé
M
M
Franceschi
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis; D002452:Cell Count; D048429:Cell Size; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015672:Erythroid Precursor Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D006304:Health Status; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000502:physiology*; D016298:Hematopoietic Cell Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007377:Interleukin-3 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D019089:Stem Cell Factor / Q000097:blood
D018952:Antigens, CD34; D016207:Cytokines; D016298:Hematopoietic Cell Growth Factors; D007377:Interleukin-3; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D019089:Stem Cell Factor; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor