Cytokines and impaired CD8 + CTL activity among elderly persons and the enhancing effect of IL-12

• Published in: Mechanisms of ageing and development 1997-03, Vol.94 (1), p.25-39
• Main Authors: Mbawuike, Innocent N, Acuna, Catherine L, Walz, Kirsten C, Atmar, Robert L, Greenberg, Stephen B, Couch, Robert B
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; CD8 + CTL deficiency; Elderly humans; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Humans; Immunobiology; Influenza A virus - immunology; Interferon-gamma - immunology; Interleukin-10 - immunology; Interleukin-12 - immunology; Interleukin-12 - pharmacology; Interleukin-4 - immunology; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - cytology; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - immunology; Male; Modulation of the immune response (stimulation, suppression); Recombinant Proteins - immunology; Recombinant Proteins - pharmacology; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic - cytology; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic - immunology; Th1 cytokine; Th2 cytokine
• ISSN: 0047-6374; 1872-6216
• DOI: 10.1016/S0047-6374(96)01855-6

We have previously demonstrated that about 70% of elderly persons exhibit deficient cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CD8 + CTL) responses against influenza viruses when compared to young persons. Since IFN- γ, a Th1 cytokine and IL-4, a Th2 cytokine, stimulate and inhibit CD8 + CTL responses respectively, their role(s) in the age-related CTL deficiency was investigated. Lymphocytes from young adults (34±5 years old) and elderly subjects (71±1 years old) were stimulated in vitro with influenza A/H3N2, A/H1N1 or influenza B virus for 6–7 days. The CD8 + CTL activity against virus-infected autologous target cells was significantly lower among the elderly than the young subjects ( P