INFLUENCE OF AGE ON THE PRODUCTION AND REGULATION OF INTERLEUKIN-1 IN MICE

  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 55  (3) , 447-455
Abstract
The decrease in T-cell proliferation with age is due, in part, to the decline in the production of IL 2 (interleukin 2). Since IL 1 (interleukin 1) is needed to trigger IL 2 production, the IL 1 producing capacity of peritoneal macrophages of young (2-4 mo.) and old (24-26 mo.) BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice was determined. Mice were stimulated with L.P.S. (lipopolysaccharide) and their peritoneal macrophages were obtained 3 days later, purified, and assessed for IL 1 production by coculturing them with splenic T cells at a ratio of 1:5 in the presence of LPS. Supernatants were obtained 4 days later when the prostaglandin E2 and IL-2 activities were minimal and IL 1 activity maximal. IL 1 activity was assessed by its ability to augment the proliferative activity of indicator thymocytes in their response to phytohemagglutinin stimulation. The results revealed that IL 1 production by cells of old BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice is reduced to .apprx. 40% and 30% that of young mice, respectively; indomethacin enhances IL 1 production by cells of both young and old mice to the same extent: and reduction in the IL 1 producing capacity by cells of old mice results from altered activities of both the IL 1 producing peritoneal macrophages and the augmenting T cells.