title: Age-related impairment of human T lymphocytes' activation: specific differences between CD4(+) and CD8(+) subsets.
abstract: The relevance of physiological immune aging is of great interest with respect to determining disorders with pathologic immune function in aging individuals. In recent years, the relevance of changes in peripheral lymphocytes in age-associated neurologic diseases has become more evident. Due to the lack of immunological studies, covering more than one event after mitogenic activation, we envisaged a new concept in the present study, aiming to investigate several events, starting from T cell receptor (TCR) ligation up to T cell proliferation. In addition, we addressed the question whether changes are present in the subsets (CD4, CD8) with aging. Phosphorylation of tyrosine residues declines with increasing age in CD4(+) cells. Fewer levels of CD69 positive cells after 4 h mitogenic activation, altered expression of cytokines (IL2, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha; 22 h) and lower proliferation (72 h) were determined in aging. Moreover, it could be shown that CD8(+) lymphocytes react more effectively to mitogenic stimulation with reference to CD69 expression and proliferation in both age groups (<35 and >60 years old). These data indicate that T cell activation, mediated by TCR engagement, is significantly impaired in aging and both subsets are affected. However, bypassing the TCR does not fully restore T cell function, indicating that there are more mechanisms involved than impaired signal transduction through TCR only. The results will be discussed in relation to their relevance in neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Biocenter, Marie-Curie-Strasse 9, 60439 Frankfurt/Main, Germany. schindowski@ana.uni-heidelberg.de
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schindowski
authors.forename: Lutz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fröhlich
authors.forename: Konrad
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maurer
authors.forename: Walter E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eckert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D002455:Cell Division; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015759:Ionomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010766:Phosphorylation; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000378:metabolism; D000099192:CD69 Antigens
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015759:Ionomycin; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D014443:Tyrosine; D000099192:CD69 Antigens; C100156:leukoagglutinins, plants