Blood T‐Lymphocyte Functions in Healthy Adults in Relation to Age
- 1 January 1982
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wiley in Scandinavian Journal of Haematology
- Vol. 28 (1), 45-53
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0609.1982.tb02119.x
Abstract
Blood T lymphocyte functions were studied in 167 healthy [human] adults (age range 19-91 yr). Lymphocyte DNA synthesis induced by concavalin A, pokeweed mitogen and PPD [purified protein derivative] antigen declined with age; the spontaneous DNA synthesis remained essentially unchanged. Relative and total T cell counts but not total lymphocyte counts were moderately decreased in elderly persons. The lymphocyte response to mitogens correlated with the PPD-induced activation in vitro. Lymphocyte and T cell counts did not show any association with the response to mitogens and antigen. A few subjects were tested on several occasions during 2-7 yr confirming a good reproducibility of the techniques employed. Thus, aging is associated with a diminished number of T cells and impairment of lymphocyte activation by T cell mitogens and PPD antigens. The clinical importance of this general age-related T cell deficiency remains largely unresolved.Keywords
This publication has 21 references indexed in Scilit:
- Age-dependent changes in human peripheral blood B cells and T-cell subsets: Correlation with mitogen responsivenessClinical Immunology and Immunopathology, 1980
- Lymphocyte subsets and integrated immune function in aging humansClinical Immunology and Immunopathology, 1978
- Prognostic Factors in Hodgkin's DiseaseScandinavian Journal of Haematology, 1978
- Circulating suppressor cells in man as a function of ageClinical Immunology and Immunopathology, 1978
- Immunological Defects in Healthy Twin Siblings to Patients with Hodgkin's DiseaseScandinavian Journal of Haematology, 1977
- Ageing and Cell-Mediated ImmunityGerontology, 1975
- AGEING, IMMUNE RESPONSE, AND MORTALITYThe Lancet, 1974
- SURFACE MARKERS ON HUMAN T AND B LYMPHOCYTESThe Journal of Experimental Medicine, 1972
- GENETIC CONTROL OF THYMUS-DERIVED CELL FUNCTIONThe Journal of Experimental Medicine, 1972
- SEPARATION OF VIABLE LYMPHOCYTES FROM HUMAN BLOODThe Lancet, 1964