title: Age related natural antiviral non-specific immunity of human leukocytes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of our study was to examine the dependence of innate antiviral immunity on age and sex in human leukocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Innate antiviral immunity was measured by using the direct method of infection of leukocytes with vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), which was selected as the indicatory virus for detection of immunity. The lack of VSV replication by infected leukocytes (0-1 log TCID50) was taken as an indicator for complete immunity; a low level of VSV replication (2-3 log) for partial immunity; and a high VSV titer (4 or more log) for the no or very low immunity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The kinetics of VSV replication was studied in leukocytes isolated from 127 individuals ranging in a age from 0 to 89 years. Individual differentiation in the kinetics of VSV replication indicated differing degrees of innate immunity even in newborns. Age-related differences in natural immunity were observed: low immunity in newborns, highest in the age group 31-40, and reduced in the age group >60. Sex dependent innate immunity was shown in the group of aged persons, as innate immunity was higher in women than in men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Innate immunity of leukocytes develops to age 30-40, after which immunity is gradually reduced. Sex dependence was observed only in the group of elderly persons, where women expressed higher immunity; this is probably a reason for their statistically greater longevity.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rybka
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Orzechowska
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Siemieniec
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leszek
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zaczynska
authors.forename: Jaroslaw
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pajak
authors.forename: Zofia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Błach-Olszewska
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014721:Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus / Q000276:immunology