Lower percentage of CD8(high+)CD152(+) but not CD8(high+)CD28(+) T lymphocytes in the elderly may be reverted by interleukin 2 in vitro.
An expression of the surface co-stimulatory molecules-the CD152 and the CD28 has been compared between young and old individuals on the CD8(high+) lymphocytes. Sixty five elderly healthy (65-96 years old) and 31 young (19-40 years old) volunteers were examined. An expression of CD152 and CD28 surface antigens was analyzed by flow cytometry ex vivo and on whole blood cell cultures lymphocytes stimulated with interleukin 2 (IL2). The elderly population was characterized by a lower percentage of the CD8(high+) lymphocytes than the young population. The percentages of CD28(+) lymphocytes as well as those of CD8(high+)CD28(+) subpopulation were lower in the old group compared to the young group. The surface expression of CD152 antigen was similar to that of CD28 with a lower percentage of the CD152(+) lymphocytes and CD8(high+)CD152(+) cells in the old group. Stimulation of lymphocytes in vitro with IL2 resulted in an increase of the CD8(high+)CD152(+) cells in the elderly, while it had no effect on lymphocytes of the young group. Our results indicate that lymphocytes of the elderly population are characterized by a lower expression of the surface CD28 and CD152 molecules. An age-related decrease of an expression of the co-stimulatory molecules CD28 and CD152 on the surface of lymphocytes, found in our study, may be compatible with a hypothesis of a 'remodelling' of immune response in the healthy elderly.
Trzonkowski
Piotr
P
Department of Histology and Immunology, Medical University, Ul. Debinki 1, 80-211, Gdansk, Poland. ptrzon@amedec.amg.gda.pl
Myśliwska
Jolanta
J
Szmit
Ewa
E
Zak
Małgorzata
M
Foerster
Jerzy
J
Myśliwski
Andrzej
A
D000069594:Abatacept; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000097:blood*; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D018796:Immunoconjugates; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D018106:CD28 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; C556706:CTLA4 protein, human; D018796:Immunoconjugates; D007376:Interleukin-2; D000069594:Abatacept