Immunological Functions of Aged Human Monocytes

• Published in: Pathobiology (Basel) Vol. 63; no. 3; pp. 148 - 159
• Main Authors: McLachlan, Julie A., Serkin, Carlo D., Morrey-Clark, Kathleen M., Bakouche, Ouahid
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland S. Karger AG 1995
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Cells, Cultured; Cellular Senescence - immunology; Cyclic AMP - metabolism; Cytotoxicity; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; Female; Humans; Interleukin-1 - biosynthesis; Interleukin-1 - secretion; Male; Monocytes - immunology; Monocytes - metabolism; Monocytes - secretion; Nitric Oxide - metabolism; Original Paper; Protein Kinase C - metabolism; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; Translocation; Signal transduction; Monocytes; Protein kinase C; Interleukin 1; Aging; Lipopolysaccharide; Cytotoxicity; Antitumoral activity
• ISSN: 1015-2008; 1423-0291
• DOI: 10.1159/000163946

Aging is associated with an increased occurrence of infection and cancer, and, as people age, they begin to exhibit age-related immune deficiencies, collectively termed immunosenescence. To determine the effects of age on human monocytes, ‘aged monocytes’ (isolated from individuals > 65 years of age) were compared with ‘young monocytes’ (isolated from individuals -25 years of age) for their ability to be activated by lipopolysaccharide. Our results show that aged monocytes display a decrease in their cytotoxicity against tumor cells in vitro, a decrease in interleukin (IL1) secretion (although no decrease in IL1 precursor production was observed), a decrease in reactive oxygen and nitrogen intermediate (ROI/RNI) release, an increase in intracellular levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate and a loss of protein kinase translocation. Therefore, aged monocytes present distinct characteristics of immunosenescence.