Decreased IL-2, IFN-gamma, and IL-10 production by aged mice during the acute phase of E55+ retrovirus infection.
We previously reported that aged mice demonstrated a 12-week delay in virus clearance compared to young mice after infection with E55+ murine leukemia retrovirus (E55+MuLV). The current study demonstrates that both the levels of IL-2, IFN-gamma, and IL-10 and the number of cells producing IL-2 and IFN-gamma were lower at 2 and 4 weeks postinfection (p.i.) in aged compared to young mice after virus-specific stimulation of spleen cells in vitro. In both age groups, IL-2 and IL-10 were produced by CD4(+) T and B cells, respectively. IFN-gamma was produced mainly by CD4(+) T cells at 2 weeks p.i. and by CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells at 4 weeks p.i. in young, but primarily by CD8(+) T cells, in aged mice. Therefore, delayed virus clearance is associated with age-related decreases in type 1 and type 2 cytokines and a shift in the primary source of at least one cytokine.
Elrefaei
Mohamed
M
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, MCP Hahnemann University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19129, USA.
Blank
Kenneth J
KJ
Murasko
Donna M
DM
D000208:Acute Disease; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002452:Cell Count; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009052:Leukemia Virus, Murine / Q000276:immunology*; D007942:Leukemia, Experimental / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012192:Retroviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000276:immunology*
D007376:Interleukin-2; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007371:Interferon-gamma