Normal ageing is associated with an increase in Th2 cells, MCP‐1 (CCL1) and RANTES (CCL5), with differences in sCD40L and PDGF‐AA between sexes

• Published in: Clinical and experimental immunology Vol. 170; no. 2; pp. 186 - 193
• Main Authors: Mansfield, A. S., Nevala, W. K., Dronca, R. S., Leontovich, A. A., Shuster, L., Markovic, S. N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.11.2012; Blackwell; Oxford University Press; Blackwell Science Inc
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; ageing; Aging; Aging - immunology; Aging - metabolism; Analytical, structural and metabolic biochemistry; Antigens; B-Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology; B-Lymphocyte Subsets - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; CD3 Complex - immunology; CD3 Complex - metabolism; CD4 Antigens - immunology; CD4 Antigens - metabolism; CD40 Ligand - immunology; CD40 Ligand - metabolism; Chemokine CCL2 - immunology; Chemokine CCL2 - metabolism; Chemokine CCL5 - immunology; Chemokine CCL5 - metabolism; Cytokines - immunology; Cytokines - metabolism; Cytomegalovirus; Cytotoxicity; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; immunity; Influenza; Lymphocytes; Male; MCP‐1; Melanoma; Melanoma - immunology; Melanoma - metabolism; Middle Aged; Original; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor - immunology; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor - metabolism; RANTES; Receptors, Immunologic - immunology; Receptors, Immunologic - metabolism; Receptors, Prostaglandin - immunology; Receptors, Prostaglandin - metabolism; Sex Factors; Skin cancer; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - metabolism; Th2 cells; Th2 Cells - immunology; Th2 Cells - metabolism; Young Adult; MCP-1; RANTES; Ageing; Helper cell; Increase; Biochemistry; CC chemokine; Th2 cells; Immunity; Association; Th2 lymphocyte; Platelet derived growth factor; Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1
• ISSN: 0009-9104; 1365-2249; 1365-2249
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2012.04644.x

Summary We have observed T helper type 2 (Th2) polarization of systemic immunity in patients with metastatic malignant melanoma. We hypothesized that similar changes in systemic immunity occur with ageing and may be permissive for the development of melanoma. We analysed the peripheral blood of 389 healthy blood donors. All subjects were profiled for peripheral blood T cell and B cell subsets, and 58 of these subjects were profiled for antigen‐specific cytotoxic T cell subsets [cytomegalovirus (CMV), influenza and melanoma antigen recognized by T cells 1 (MART‐1)]. Ninety‐five separate healthy subjects underwent profiling of 42 plasma cytokines. Ageing was associated positively with CD4+CD294+ Th2 cells, and associated negatively with CD3+ T cells, cytotoxic T cells and T helper cells. Ageing was also associated negatively with CMV‐, influenza‐ and MART‐1‐specific naive and CD8+ T cells. There were significant increases in plasma monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP‐1) (CCL1) and regulated upon activation normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) (CCL5) with age. We observed differences in cytokine profiles between males and females; specifically, women had higher levels of sCD40L and PDGF‐AA. In summary, we demonstrated in healthy blood donors that ageing was associated with an increase in cellular Th2 bias and a decline in total numbers of T cells. Additionally, there was an increase in MCP‐1 and RANTES with ageing. Women had higher levels of sCD40L and PDGF‐AA than men.