Whole Blood Analysis of Phagocytosis, Apoptosis, Cytokine Production, and Leukocyte Subsets in Healthy Older Men and Women: The ZENITH Study

Few studies to date have examined age-related changes in markers of immune status in healthy older individuals. The immune status of 93 healthy individuals aged 55–70 years was assessed by two- and three-color flow cytometry and biochemical analysis. There were significant age effects (p ≤.05) on mo...

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Published in:The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences Biological sciences and medical sciences, 2006-09, Vol.61 (9), p.907-917
Main Authors: Hodkinson, Clare F., O'Connor, Jacqueline M., Alexander, H. Denis, Bradbury, Ian, Bonham, Maxine P., Hannigan, Bernadette M., Gilmore, William S., Strain, J. J., Wallace, Julie M. W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Aging
Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte - metabolism
Apoptosis - physiology
Blood
C-Reactive Protein - analysis
Complement C3 - analysis
Complement C4 - analysis
Cytokines
Female
Flow Cytometry
HLA-DR Antigens - metabolism
Humans
Immune system
Immunology
Interleukin-1 - metabolism
Killer Cells, Natural - metabolism
Lymphocyte Count
Lymphocytes
Male
Middle Aged
Monocytes - metabolism
Older people
Phagocytosis - physiology
Sex Factors
Studies
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Summary:Few studies to date have examined age-related changes in markers of immune status in healthy older individuals. The immune status of 93 healthy individuals aged 55–70 years was assessed by two- and three-color flow cytometry and biochemical analysis. There were significant age effects (p ≤.05) on monocyte phagocytic activity and cluster of differentiation (CD) 3/human leukocyte antigen-D-related (HLA-DR) late-activated T lymphocytes (% expression). There was a significant (p ≤ 0.1) Age × Sex interaction in absolute counts (× 109/L) of CD3/CD8 total cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), the CD4 T- helper to CD8 CTL ratio, the CD3/CD4/CD45RA naïve T helper to CD3/CD4/CD45RO memory T helper lymphocyte ratio, and interleukin (IL)-1β (% expression) by activated monocytes. The study shows that alterations in markers of immune status occur between 55 and 70 years, and provides reference values for the lymphocyte measures in healthy men and postmenopausal women in this age group. The study further highlights the need for sex-specific reference ranges for such markers.
ISSN:1079-5006
1758-535X
DOI:10.1093/gerona/61.9.907