title: Whole blood analysis of phagocytosis, apoptosis, cytokine production, and leukocyte subsets in healthy older men and women: the ZENITH study.
abstract: Few studies to date have examined age-related changes in markers of immune status in healthy older individuals. The immune status of 93 healthy individuals aged 55-70 years was assessed by two- and three-color flow cytometry and biochemical analysis. There were significant age effects (p <or=.05) on monocyte phagocytic activity and cluster of differentiation (CD) 3/human leukocyte antigen-D-related (HLA-DR) late-activated T lymphocytes (% expression). There was a significant (p <or= 0.1) Age x Sex interaction in absolute counts (x 10(9)/L) of CD3/CD8 total cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), the CD4 T- helper to CD8 CTL ratio, the CD3/CD4/CD45RA naïve T helper to CD3/CD4/CD45RO memory T helper lymphocyte ratio, and interleukin (IL)-1beta (% expression) by activated monocytes. The study shows that alterations in markers of immune status occur between 55 and 70 years, and provides reference values for the lymphocyte measures in healthy men and postmenopausal women in this age group. The study further highlights the need for sex-specific reference ranges for such markers.
authors.affiliation: Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, BT52 1SA.
authors.forename: Clare F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Hodkinson
authors.forename: Jacqueline M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: H Denis
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bradbury
authors.forename: Maxine P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Bonham
authors.forename: Bernadette M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Hannigan
authors.forename: William S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Gilmore
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Strain
authors.forename: Julie M W
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wallace
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000378:metabolism; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000502:physiology*; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D003176:Complement C3; D003181:Complement C4; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D007375:Interleukin-1; D002097:C-Reactive Protein