Is ageing associated with a shift in the balance between Type 1 and Type 2 cytokines in humans?

• Published in: Clinical and experimental immunology Vol. 127; no. 1; pp. 107 - 114
• Main Authors: Sandmand, M., Bruunsgaard, H., Kemp, K., Andersen‐Ranberg, K., Pedersen, A. N., Skinhøj, P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01.01.2002; Blackwell; Oxford University Press; Blackwell Science Inc
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; ageing; Aging - immunology; Antigens, CD - immunology; Biological and medical sciences; CD4 antigen; CD8 antigen; CD95; Clinical Studies; Cytokines - biosynthesis; Cytokines - immunology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; g-Interferon; Humans; IFN‐γ; IL‐4; Immunity, Cellular - physiology; Immunobiology; Lymphoid cells: ontogeny, maturation, markers, receptors, circulation and recirculation; Male; Middle Aged; Th1 Cells - immunology; Th1/Th2 ratio; Th2 Cells - immunology; Human; Immune response; Ageing; Cytokine; Th1 lymphocyte; Immunity; Cell subpopulation; Interleukin 4; T-Lymphocyte; Th2 lymphocyte; Elderly; Age; Gamma interferon
• ISSN: 0009-9104; 1365-2249
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2249.2002.01736.x

SUMMARY The balance between Type 1 and Type 2 cytokines is important for the outcome of several infectious diseases. As elderly humans show increased morbidity and mortality from infectious diseases, this study tests if ageing is associated with a change towards Type 2 dominance in T cells. Expression of IFN‐γ, and IL‐4 was measured in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells by flow cytometry in three groups: young controls (n = 28), 81‐year‐olds (n = 22), and centenarians (n = 25). The major findings were that the percentage of IFN‐γ+ as well as IL‐4+ T cells was increased in aged subjects. Furthermore, after adjusting for decreased lymphocyte counts in the elderly, the concentration in the blood of IFN‐γ+ and IL‐4+ CD8+ T cells was still increased in the 81‐year‐olds. In centenarians, a shift towards a relative dominance of Type 2 cytokine expression was found within CD8+ T cells. Furthermore, the percentage of T cells with cytokine expression was closely correlated to the in vivo expression of CD95 and CD45RO. In conclusion, we found some evidence for an age‐related shift towards a Type 2 cytokine profile.