Numerical and functional alterations of circulating gammadelta T lymphocytes in aged people and centenarians.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the peripheral representation, in vitro expansion, cytokine production, and cytotoxicity of gammadelta T lymphocytes from 104 healthy subjects ranging in age from 19 to 103 years. We demonstrated that the absolute number of circulating gammadelta(+) T cells was reduced significantly in old people and centenarians in comparison with young subjects as a consequence of the age-related decreased lymphocyte number. The decrease was a result of an age-dependent reduction of Vdelta2 T cells, whereas the absolute number of Vdelta1 T cells was unaffected by age. As a consequence, the Vdelta2/Vdelta1 ratio was inverted in old subjects and centenarians. A higher percentage of gammadelta(+) T cells producing tumor necrosis factor alpha was found in old donors and centenarians, whereas no age-related difference was observed in interferon -gamma production. After a 10-day in vitro expansion, a twofold lower expansion index of gammadelta T cells, and particularly of a Vdelta2, but not of a Vdelta1 subset, was found in old people and centenarians in comparison with young subjects. The cytotoxicity of sorted gammadelta T cells was preserved in old people and centenarians. The alteration of gammadelta T cells could contribute to the age-related derangement of T cell-mediated, adoptive responses and may represent a new characteristic of immunosenescence.
Argentati
Katy
K
Laboratory of Tumor Immunology, Immunology Center, INRCA Gerontological Research Dept., Via Birarelli 8, 60121 Ancona, Italy.
Re
Francesca
F
Donnini
Alessia
A
Tucci
Maria G
MG
Franceschi
Claudio
C
Bartozzi
Beatrice
B
Bernardini
Giovanni
G
Provinciali
Mauro
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D002465:Cell Movement; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D006801:Humans; D020014:K562 Cells; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008875:Middle Aged; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000032:analysis*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D016207:Cytokines; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta