The immune system changes with the age. In this study we characterized immune changes by performing immunologic screening profiles on aging individuals(graduation thesis).
Methods:
This study was performed at Akdeniz University, in the Faculty of Medicine, Dept. of Immunology. Healthy volunteers consisted of a young group (22 donors) and an older group (45 individuals). Using flow cytometry analysis, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD16, CD19, CD28, CD40 , CD45, CD56, CD80, CD86, CTLA-4 and with ELISA IL-1 β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-γ, TNF-α expression were evaluated, along with and NK activity and induced cytokine expression (by bioassay/ELISA respectively).
Results:
No statistical differences were observed between the two groups in expression of CD3, CD8, CD19, CD80, CD86, CD16, CD 56 or CD28. A higher frequency of expression of CD4, CTLA-4, CD40 and CD45 was seen in older subjects by comparison with young subjects. Cytokine profiles expressed by stimulated monocytes from the two groups showed no difference in IL-1 β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α and IFN-γ production levels. Cytokine profiles expressed by stimulated lymphocytes from the two groups showed no difference in IL-1 β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α and IFN-γ production levels.
Conclusions:
We found increased expression levels of CD40 and CD45 levels in healthy older (>55 years old) vs young individuals (media age 28 years). CTLA-4 expression levels were also higher in elderly subjects, with no difference in CD28 expression levels between young/elderly individuals.