Cell surface markers, inositol phosphate levels and membrane potential of lymphocytes from young and old human patients

• Published in: Immunology letters Vol. 23; no. 4; pp. 275 - 280
• Main Authors: Varga, Zs, Bressani, N., Zaid, A.-M., Bene, L., Fülöp, T., Leövey, A., Fabris, N., Damjanovich, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.02.1990; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Aging - immunology; Analysis of the immune response. Humoral and cellular immunity; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antigens, Differentiation - analysis; Biological and medical sciences; Flow Cytometry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Humans; Immunobiology; Inositol phosphate; Inositol Phosphates - analysis; Leukocyte Count; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - analysis; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - immunology; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - physiology; Lymphocyte; Lymphocyte Activation; Membrane potential; Membrane Potentials - drug effects; Organs and cells involved in the immune response; Potassium - pharmacology; T-Lymphocytes; Aging; Membrane potential; Inositol phosphate; Lymphocyte; Human; Flow cytometry; Phosphatidylinositol; Distribution; Plasma membrane; Biological marker; Monoclonal antibody; Cell subpopulation; Cell surface; Age
• ISSN: 0165-2478; 1879-0542
• DOI: 10.1016/0165-2478(90)90072-X

It is well known that most physiological functions change with aging, including the immune response. Data concerning the aging of lymphocyte subpopulations are conflicting. The antigen density of peripheral blood lymphocytes has been determined by flourescently tagged OKT-3, OKT-4, OKT-8, OKT-11 and OKM1 monoclonal antibodies in a carefully selected aged (over 87 years) population, and compared to that of young subjects. A substantial difference was found in the percentage distribution of OKT8 and OKM1 subsets. The volume of lymphocytes of the elderly population was significantly less that that of the young. The effect of various monoclonal antibodies on phosphatidylinositol breakdown has also been studied. It was found that only OKT3, acting through the CD3 antigen receptor was able to induce inositol phosphate formation in both young and eldery, although in the latter population this occured at a lower level. Because the plasma membrane plays a regulatory role in this process, an important and sensitive functional parameter, the membrane potential, was also monitored and influenced by changing the extracellular K + concentration. The lymphocytes of the elderly population responded less sensitively to changes in extracellular potassium concentration.