Interferon Response to Mitogens and Viral Antigens in Elderly and Young Adult Subjects

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases Vol. 153; no. 5; pp. 984 - 987
• Main Authors: Rytel, M. W., Larratt, K. S., Tuner, P. A., Kalbfleisch, J. H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL The University of Chicago Press 01.05.1986; University of Chicago Press
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aging; Analysis of the immune response. Humoral and cellular immunity; Antibodies; Antibodies, Viral - analysis; Antigens; Antigens, Viral - immunology; Biological and medical sciences; Concise Clinical and Laboratory Communications; Cytomegalovirus - immunology; Enterotoxins - pharmacology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Herpes zoster; Herpesvirus 3, Human - immunology; Humans; Immunobiology; Interferon Type I - biosynthesis; Interferon-gamma - biosynthesis; Interferons; Lymphocytes; Miscellaneous; Mitogens; Mitogens - pharmacology; Older adults; Phytohemagglutinins - pharmacology; Regulatory factors and their cellular receptors; Simplexvirus - immunology; Varicella zoster encephalitis; varicella-zoster virus; Viral antigens; Young adults; Human; Virus; α-Herpesvirinae; Varicella zoster virus; Antibody; Herpesviridae; Young adult; Mitogen; Phytohemagglutinin; Elderly; Age; Gamma interferon
• ISSN: 0022-1899; 1537-6613
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/153.5.984

Herpes zoster, a disease thought to be due to reactivation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV), is more common in elderly individuals than in the rest of the population. Hope-Simpson reported the disease to be relatively uncommon until the age of 50 years, after which there is a steep rise in incidence rates. Mechanisms responsible for this disease are not known. Because humoral immunity to VZV is not diminished in elderly individuals, recent studies have focused on cell-mediated immunity. Results of these studies were variable. gamma -Interferon (IFN- gamma ) is a lymphokine thought to be of importance in immunoregulation and resistance to viral infections.