title: Ageing-associated changes in cellular immunity based on the SENIEUR protocol.
abstract: To investigate ageing-associated changes in cellular immunity, we recruited three groups of healthy subjects based on SENIEUR protocol criteria. In addition, 10 subjects were randomly selected from each group to isolate their T cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells; T cell proliferation after phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation was determined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assays. There were no marked differences in the absolute numbers of peripheral blood T cells, NK cells or B cells among the three groups (P > 0.05). Also, no significant differences were noted in the numbers of CD4+ cells, CD8+ cells, or the CD4+/CD8+ ratios (P > 0.05). After PHA stimulation, T cell proliferation was markedly increased, with the highest level in group C and the lowest level in group A (P < 0.05). Cytokine-induced killer tumouricidal activities were also dramatically increased, with the highest activity in group C and the lowest activity in group A (P < 0.05). Our findings suggest that the number of immune cells remains unchanged with advanced age. However, there is a trend for decreased cellular immunity with an increase in age.
authors.affiliation: Geriatrics Center, General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command of PLA, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China. gzlnkwujun@hotmail.com
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Y-Y
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: D-G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: L-H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: L-N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D002452:Cell Count; D002469:Cell Separation; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology*