title: Relationship between systemic inflammation and delayed-type hypersensitivity response to Candida antigen in older adults.
abstract: Research has shown that aging is associated with increased systemic inflammation as well as a reduction in the strength of immune responses. However, little evidence exists linking the decrease in cell-mediated immunity in older adults with other health parameters. We sought to examine the relationship between cell-mediated immunity as measured in vivo by the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response to candida antigen and demographic and physiological variables in older (65-80 y.o.) adults. Candida antigen response was not related to gender or obesity, or to a number of other physiological variables including fitness and body composition. However, positive responders had significantly lower serum C-reactive protein levels (CRP, p<0.05) vs. non-responders. Furthermore, subjects with CRP<4.75 mg•L(-1) had greater odds of developing a positive response compared to those with CRP>4.75 mg•L(-1). Therefore, positive responses to candida antigen in older adults appears to be related to lower levels of systemic inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America.
authors.forename: Brandt D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Pence
authors.forename: Thomas W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Lowder
authors.forename: K Todd
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Keylock
authors.forename: Victoria J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Vieira Potter
authors.forename: Marc D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McAuley
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Woods
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000276:immunology*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002175:Candida / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D002097:C-Reactive Protein