Phenotypic and functional characteristics of circulating monocytes of elderly persons

Aging is associated with impairment of immune functions. Age-dependent alterations in T-cells are well known. Although the pivotal role of monocytes in immune regulation by their production of proinflammatory and inhibitory cytokines is acknowledged, limited information is available on monocyte chan...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Experimental gerontology 1999-12, Vol.34 (8), p.959-970
Main Authors: Sadeghi, Hoss M, Schnelle, Jack F, Thomas, John K, Nishanian, Parunag, Fahey, John L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Aging - blood
Animals
CD14/CD16
Cytokines
Cytokines - biosynthesis
Humans
Lipopolysaccharide Receptors - analysis
Lipopolysaccharides - pharmacology
Middle Aged
Monocyte
Monocytes - drug effects
Monocytes - immunology
Monocytes - metabolism
Monocytes - physiology
Phenotype
Receptors, IgG - analysis
Senescence
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Summary:Aging is associated with impairment of immune functions. Age-dependent alterations in T-cells are well known. Although the pivotal role of monocytes in immune regulation by their production of proinflammatory and inhibitory cytokines is acknowledged, limited information is available on monocyte changes in aging. The present study focused on phenotypic changes in circulating monocytes in elderly subjects and in the level of cytokines they produce. The results demonstrated a significant expansion of CD14 dim/CD16 bright circulating monocytes in elderly. In contrast, the majority of circulating monocytes of healthy young individuals were CD14 bright/CD16 dim. The CD14 dim/CD16 bright monocytes are considered to have phenotypic evidence for activation. Furthermore, significant increases of constitutive production of monocytic cytokines including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-1receptor antagonist, and IL-6 by nonstimulated monocytes from elderly was also indicative of activation. This was also observed when monocytes from elderly were cultured with autologous lymphocytes. However, after stimulation, significantly lowered IL-1β production was observed and IL-6 and IL-10 tended to be higher in the elderly. Collectively, these results indicate that monocytes of aged individuals, in contrast to a younger population exhibit in vivo activation as well as imbalanced production of cytokines. Such age-related alterations in monocytes may contribute to impaired immune competence of aging.
ISSN:0531-5565
1873-6815
DOI:10.1016/S0531-5565(99)00065-0