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

TY - JOUR

T1 - Is ageing associated with a shift in the balance between Type 1 and Type 2 cytokines in humans?

AU - Sandmand, M

AU - Bruunsgaard, H

AU - Kemp, K

AU - Andersen-Ranberg, K

AU - Pedersen, A N

AU - Skinhøj, P

AU - Pedersen, B K

N1 - Keywords: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Antigens, CD; Cytokines; Female; Humans; Immunity, Cellular; Male; Middle Aged; Th1 Cells; Th2 Cells

PY - 2002

Y1 - 2002

N2 - 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-gamma, 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-gamma+ 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-gamma+ 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.

AB - 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-gamma, 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-gamma+ 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-gamma+ 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.

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 11882040

SN - 0964-2536

VL - 127

SP - 107

EP - 114

JO - Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Supplement

JF - Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Supplement

IS - 1

ER -