CD40, CD45 CTLA-4 levels are elevated in healthy older adults.
BACKGROUND
The immune system changes with age. In this study we characterized immune changes by performing immunologic screening profiles on ageing individuals.


METHODS
This study was performed at Akdeniz University, in the Faculty of Medicine, Department of Immunology. Healthy volunteers consisted of a younger group (22 donors) and an older group (45 individuals). All subjects had no serious health problems (i.e. chronic heart, lung, liver or immunological diseases) and were taking no prescribed medications. Flow cytometry analysis was used to evaluate CD3, CD4, CD8, CD16, CD19, CD28, CD40, CD45, CD56, CD80, CD86, CTLA-4 and ELISA for IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha expression In addition, NK activity and induced cytokine expression (by bioassay and ELISA, respectively) were evaluated.


RESULTS
No statistical differences were observed between the two groups in expression of CD3, CD8, CD19, CD80, CD86, CD16, CD 56, or CD28. A higher frequency of expression of CD4, CTLA-4, CD40, and CD45 was seen in older subjects by comparison with younger subjects. Cytokine profiles expressed by stimulated monocytes and lymphocytes from the two groups showed no difference in IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma production levels.


CONCLUSIONS
We found increased expression levels of CD40 and CD45 levels in healthy older (age: 59.42 +/- 5.89) versus younger individuals (age: 30.32 +/- 2.29). CTLA-4 expression levels were also higher in older subjects, with no difference in CD28 expression levels between younger/older individuals.
Internal Medicine, Allergology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Antalya Education and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey.
Arzu Didem
AD
Yalcin
Reginald M
RM
Gorczynski
Münevver Sarigül
MS
Kahraman
Mehtap Ulker
MU
Demirel
Ender
E
Terzioglu
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D015415:Biomarkers; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D056724:Immunity, Humoral / Q000502:physiology; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D019013:CD40 Antigens; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; C556706:CTLA4 protein, human; D016207:Cytokines; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens; C516769:PTPRC protein, human