T lymphocytes of young and aged rats. II. Functional defects and the role of interleukin-2

Splenic T lymphocytes of aged Lewis rats respond to Con A and PHA with diminished 3H-TdR uptake compared with splenic T lymphocytes of young Lewis rats. After immunization with allogeneic tumor cells, uptake of 3H-TdR in mixed lymphocyte-tumor cultures and T cell cytotoxicity against tumor target ce...

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Published inThe Journal of immunology (1950) Vol. 128; no. 2; pp. 644 - 650
Main Authors Gilman, SC, Rosenberg, JS, Feldman, JD
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Am Assoc Immnol 01.02.1982
Subjects
Aging
Animals
Cells, Cultured
Concanavalin A - pharmacology
Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
Female
Interleukin-2 - biosynthesis
Interleukin-2 - metabolism
Interleukin-2 - physiology
Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed
Lymphokines - physiology
Male
Mitogens - pharmacology
Rats
Rats, Inbred BN
Rats, Inbred Lew
Spleen - immunology
T-Lymphocytes - immunology
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Summary:Splenic T lymphocytes of aged Lewis rats respond to Con A and PHA with diminished 3H-TdR uptake compared with splenic T lymphocytes of young Lewis rats. After immunization with allogeneic tumor cells, uptake of 3H-TdR in mixed lymphocyte-tumor cultures and T cell cytotoxicity against tumor target cells are significantly lower with spleen cells of aged rats compared with those of young rats. The culture of spleen cells of aged rats with Con A results in a diminished conversion of Ia-positive T cells from Ia-negative precursors compared with similar cultures of spleen cells of young rats. Spleen cells of both young and aged rats produce high amounts of IL-2 in response to Con A stimulation. "Old" T cells, however, bind relatively little IL-2, do not utilize it in culture, and do not respond to exogenous IL-2 with enhanced 3H-TdR uptake as do "young" T cells. In allogeneic MLTC, "old" T lymphocytes produce little IL-2 compared with "young" cells, and both "young" and "old" cells respond to exogenous IL-2 with enhanced 3H-TdR uptake and increased cytotoxic activity. The data suggest defects in the synthesis and/or recognition of IL-2 as well as defects in the regulation of Ia antigen expression may be responsible, in part, for the reduced T cell function in aged animals.
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ISSN:0022-1767
1550-6606
DOI:10.4049/jimmunol.128.2.644