SUBPOPULATIONS OF MONONUCLEAR-CELLS IN AGING - EXPANSION OF THE NULL-CELL COMPARTMENT AND DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF T-CELLS AND B-CELLS IN HUMAN-BLOOD

  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 55  (1) , 15-21
Abstract
Controversies surrounding the study of the immune system in aging are mainly due to the selection of the subjects studied. The mononuclear cell subpopulations in the peripheral blood of subjects fulfilling strict admission criteria meant to exclude persons with diseases that influence the immune system were studied. These criteria are described in the SENIEUR protocol devised by a working group in the framework of EURAGE, the Concerted Action Program on Aging of the European Community. Two groups of volunteers aged 25-34 yr, and 75-84 yr were compared. Mononuclear cells were investigated by 2-wavelength immunofluorescence combined with phase-contrast microscopy. A striking increase in the number of null cells (non-T, non-B, non-monocyte) was found in the blood of the aged persons. The number of T cells was decreased, especially in the suppressor/cytotoxic subset. The number of B cells was slightly, but significantly, decreased; the number of monocytes did not change. The changes in these cell populations may be related to functional changes, and their quantification could be used to monitor attempts to reconstitute the immune defects in aging. These findings can also serve as reference values in the study of aged persons not fulfilling the SENIEUR criteria, which can contribute to the dissection of the influence of disease vs. age on the immune system.