Age-dependent modifications of Type 1 and Type 2 cytokines within virgin and memory CD4+ T cells in humans.
Several alterations in immune function and a concomitant progressive increase in pro-inflammatory status are the major characteristics of ageing process. Cytokines play a key role during ageing acting both in regulatory communication among cells and in effector activity during an immune response. The impact of age on intracellular Type 1 (IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha) and Type 2 (IL-4) cytokines, after stimulation with PMA/ionomycin, was determined in three CD4+ T subsets, i.e. CD95- CD28+ (virgin), CD95+ CD28+ (activated/memory), and CD95+ CD28- (effector/memory) from 47 subjects aged between 21 and 99 years. The percentage of IFN-gamma positive cells significantly decreased in virgin CD4+ subset both in old and nonagenarian subjects, as well as in activated/memory T cells from old in comparison with young subjects. The percentage of TNF-alpha positive cells significantly decreased in activated/memory CD4+ subset from old people. Regarding Type 2 cytokines, IL-4 positive cells significantly increased in activated/memory CD4+ subset from nonagenarians. On the whole our data indicate that: (1) different Type 1 and Type 2 cytokine-positive CD4+ T subsets are differently affected by ageing process; (2) activated/memory T cells appear to be the most affected subset; (3) a shift towards an increased role of Type 2 cytokines and a diminished role of Type 1 cytokines emerges with ageing.
Alberti
S
S
Department of Experimental Pathology and Oncology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Cevenini
E
E
Ostan
R
R
Capri
M
M
Salvioli
S
S
Bucci
L
L
Ginaldi
L
L
De Martinis
M
M
Franceschi
C
C
Monti
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000276:immunology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D018106:CD28 Antigens; D016207:Cytokines; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019014:fas Receptor; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma