THE CHANGE OF IMMUNE CAPACITY WITH AGING 1. ON THE PERIPHERAL BLOOD LYMPHOCYTE SUBSETS

• Published in: Japanese Journal of National Medical Services Vol. 47; no. 7; pp. 479 - 485
• Main Authors: KITAHARA, Yoshinari, HARADA, Susumu, KAJIKI, Akira, HARADA, Yasuko, ISHIBASHI, Tsuneo, TAKAMOTO, Masahiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japanese Society of National Medical Services 20.07.1993; 一般社団法人 国立医療学会
• Subjects: aging; flowcytometry; peripheral blood lymphocyte subset; フローサイトメトリー; 加齢; 末梢血リンパ球サブセット
• ISSN: 0021-1699; 1884-8729
• DOI: 10.11261/iryo1946.47.479

The change of immune capacity with aging was evaluated by measuring the peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets of 249 normal individuals. Double stained lymphocytes with monoclonal antibodies were analyzed by FACS flowcytometry. It was found that the number of lymphocytes and the proportion of pan T cells, suppressor/cytotoxic T cells (CD8+T), cytotoxic T cells and inducer T cells significantly decreased and the proportion of helper T cells significantly increased with aging individuals over 60 years old. The proportion of B cells and suppressor T cells did not significantly change with aging. We also found that the proportion of suppressor-inducer/naive T cells (CD45RA+CD4+T) decreased with aging and helper-inducer/memory T cells (CD45RO+CD4+T) tended to increase until the 50-59 age group and then decrease with aging in the older age groups. The proportion of NK cells, especially the weakest subset of NK cells (CD57+CD16-cells) significantly increased in aged individuals.