Role of T cells and adherent cells in age-related decline in murine interleukin 2 production.

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Spleen and lymph node cells from young (3 to 4 months) and old (24 to 36 months) mice of two inbred lines and one hybrid stock were assessed for the effect of age on IL 2 production. The results revealed that the production of IL 2 by old spleen and lymph node cells is reduced to 42% that of young cells. Cell counting, IL 2 inhibition and absorption, and cell mixture studies were then performed to determine the basis for the reduced IL 2 production. Cell counting studies revealed that the reduced IL 2 production by old cells cannot be caused by a decrease with age in the total number of Lyt 1+ T helper cells or by an increase with age in Lyt 2+ T suppressor cells. IL 2 inhibition, IL 2 absorption, and young-old spleen cells mixture studies revealed that the decrease in the level of IL 2 activity with age is caused neither by the formation of excessive amounts of soluble IL 2 inhibitors, by the generation of excessive numbers of IL 2 responsive blast cells, nor by an increase in suppressor cells. Further cell mixture studies revealed a decrease in IL 2 production by young T cells in presence of old adherent cells, which did not approach that of the old T cell-old adherent cell mixture, and an increase in IL 2 production by old T cells in the presence of young adherent cells, which did not approach that of the young T cell-young adherent cell mixture. These results would indicate that the decline in activity of both the T cells and adherent cells involved in IL 2 production are responsible for the reduction. Finally, it was found that the reduced proliferative activity of Con A-stimulated old spleen cells can be enhanced to the same extent as that of young spleen cells by exposing them to exogenous IL 2.

This publication has 17 references indexed in Scilit: