Decreased maturation of T-cell populations in the healthy elderly: Influence of nutritional factors on the appearance of double negative CD4-, CD8-, CD2+ cells.
Aging is characterized by decreased T-cell functions partly related to increase of T-cell immature subsets. In carefully selected populations we explored influences of decreased nutritional levels and/or diseases on the appearance of T-cell immaturity in elderly persons. Decrease of nutritional status is associated in healthy elderly fitting the "SENIEUR" protocol with decreased mature T-cells (CD3+), (CD8+) and increased immature double-negative T-cells (CD2+CD4-CD8-). Diseased undernourished patients express the same variations in T-cell subsets plus decreased CD4+ and increased double-positive T-cells (CD2+CD4+CD8+). This seems to indicate that aging-associated immature T-cells in peripheral blood are generated at two different, thymic and extra-thymic sites of maturation.
Lesourd
B M
BM
Laboratoire d'Immunologie du Vieillissement, Faculté de Médecine Pitié-Salpétriére, 105 Boulevard de l'Hopital, 75013 Paris, France; Service de Médecine Interne Gériatrique, Hopital Charles-Foix, 7, Avenue de la République, 94200 Ivry, France.
Laisney
C
C
Salvatore
R
R
Meaume
S
S
Moulias
R
R