TY - JOUR
T1 - Cytokine production by stimulated mononuclear cells did not change with aging in apparently healthy, well-nourished women
AU - Ahluwalia, Namanjeet
AU - Mastro, Andrea M.
AU - Ball, Rick
AU - Miles, Mary P.
AU - Rajendra, Roshni
AU - Handte, Gordon
N1 - Funding Information:
Supported by USDA Research Grant 96-35200-3132, a grant from the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, and NIH contract RR10732. We are grateful to Morgan Zittel and Veronika Weaver for their assistance with cytokines determination and to Joe Cannon for his supervision of the cytokine analyses.
PY - 2001
Y1 - 2001
N2 - Aging is often associated with a dysregulation of the immune system. We examined mitogen-stimulated production of interleukin (IL)-2 and proinflammatory cytokines, IL-1β and IL-6, in apparently healthy and generally well-nourished old versus young women. Subjects were screened for health using the SENIEUR protocol and a panel of laboratory tests for inflammation, as well as for the adequacy of nutritional status using criteria related to undernutrition, and protein, iron, vitamin B12, and folate status. Young (n = 26, age: 20-40 years) and old (n = 44, age: 62-88 years) cohorts did not differ on the number of circulating monocytes, granulocytes, B (CD19 +) cells, and T (CD3 +, CD4 +, and CD8 +) cells. No differences (P > 0.10) were seen between the two age groups in IL-2, IL-1β and IL-6 levels in whole blood cultures at 48 h after stimulation with PHA (5 mg/l). Furthermore, no age-related differences were noted in the absolute amounts (pg) of IL-1β and IL-6 after normalizing for circulating monocytes, B cells, or T cells (P > 0.10). Similarly, no age-related decline in absolute amount of IL-2 (pg) after normalizing for circulating T cells was noted (P > 0.10). Thus, contrary to most previous reports, our results do not support an increase in the production of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6, and a reduced production of IL-2 with aging when health and nutritional status are maintained. These findings support our previous results of no change in monocyte function and few alterations in acquired immune response in a carefully selected group of healthy and well-nourished elderly women.
AB - Aging is often associated with a dysregulation of the immune system. We examined mitogen-stimulated production of interleukin (IL)-2 and proinflammatory cytokines, IL-1β and IL-6, in apparently healthy and generally well-nourished old versus young women. Subjects were screened for health using the SENIEUR protocol and a panel of laboratory tests for inflammation, as well as for the adequacy of nutritional status using criteria related to undernutrition, and protein, iron, vitamin B12, and folate status. Young (n = 26, age: 20-40 years) and old (n = 44, age: 62-88 years) cohorts did not differ on the number of circulating monocytes, granulocytes, B (CD19 +) cells, and T (CD3 +, CD4 +, and CD8 +) cells. No differences (P > 0.10) were seen between the two age groups in IL-2, IL-1β and IL-6 levels in whole blood cultures at 48 h after stimulation with PHA (5 mg/l). Furthermore, no age-related differences were noted in the absolute amounts (pg) of IL-1β and IL-6 after normalizing for circulating monocytes, B cells, or T cells (P > 0.10). Similarly, no age-related decline in absolute amount of IL-2 (pg) after normalizing for circulating T cells was noted (P > 0.10). Thus, contrary to most previous reports, our results do not support an increase in the production of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6, and a reduced production of IL-2 with aging when health and nutritional status are maintained. These findings support our previous results of no change in monocyte function and few alterations in acquired immune response in a carefully selected group of healthy and well-nourished elderly women.
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U2 - 10.1016/S0047-6374(01)00266-4
DO - 10.1016/S0047-6374(01)00266-4
M3 - Article
C2 - 11438118
AN - SCOPUS:0034955930
SN - 0047-6374
VL - 122
SP - 1269
EP - 1279
JO - Mechanisms of Ageing and Development
JF - Mechanisms of Ageing and Development
IS - 12
ER -