6533b821fe1ef96bd127b7ea

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Gamma/delta T lymphocytes are affected in the elderly

Giuseppina CandoreGiuseppina Colonna-romanoCalogero CarusoDomenico LioAlessandra AquinoMarcella Potestio

subject

AdultLipopolysaccharidesMaleAgingT-LymphocytesT cellchemical and pharmacologic phenomenaBiologyLymphocyte ActivationBiochemistryEndocrinologyImmune systemAntigenGeneticsmedicineHumansCytotoxic T cellLymphocyte CountIL-2 receptorMolecular BiologyCells CulturedAgedAged 80 and overTumor Necrosis Factor-alphaLymphokineReceptors Antigen T-Cell gamma-deltahemic and immune systemsCell BiologyMiddle AgedAcquired immune systemmedicine.anatomical_structureImmunologyFemaleTumor necrosis factor alpha

description

gammadelta T lymphocytes are considered to represent a link between the inflammatory response and adaptive immunity. In the present paper we investigated whether these cells play any role in the remodeling of the immune system described in the elderly. We show that the absolute number of gammadelta T cells in peripheral blood of old and very old subjects is reduced. Moreover, gammadelta T cells from old people and centenarians show enhanced levels of the early activation marker CD69 both after culture in medium alone and in LPS-stimulated cells. Furthermore, they show a basal increased production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha as evaluated at the single cell level. Additionally, the response of these cells to IPP in "in vitro" cultures is in part impaired. These results suggest that the high level of basal activation of gammadelta T cells is due to the "inflamed" environment. However, the changes in number and function of gammadelta T lymphocytes might influence the resolution of inflammatory immune responses in the elderly.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2002-01-05Experimental Gerontology
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0531-5565(01)00185-1