Hemopoiesis in healthy old people and centenarians: well-maintainedresponsiveness of CD34+ cells to hemopoietic growth factors and remodelingof cytokine network

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Abstract
In vitro hemopoiesis and hemopoietic cytokines production were evaluatedin 9 centenarians (median age 100.5 years, age range: 100-104 years), 10old people (median age: 71 years, age range: 66-73 years), and 10 youngpeople (median age: 35 years, age range: 30-45 years), all carefullyselected for their healthy status. The main findings were the following:(i) a trend towards a decreased absolute number of CD34+ progenitor cellsin the peripheral blood of old people and centenarians, in comparison toyoung subjects; (ii) a well-preserved capability of CD34+ cells from oldpeople and centenarians to respond to hemopoietic cytokines, and to formerythroid (BFU-E), granulocyte- macrophagic (CFU-GM), and mixed colonies(CFU-GEMM) in a way (number, size, and morphology) indistinguishable fromthat of young subjects; (iii) an age-related decreased in vitro productionof granulocyte- macrophagic colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and adecreased production of interleukin-3 (IL-3) in centenarians byphytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC); (iv) a linear increase of the serum level of stem cell factor(SCF), measured in the above-mentioned subjects and in 65 additionalsubjects, including 4 centenarians. These data suggest that basalhematopoietic potential is well preserved in healthy centenarians, and thatthe hemopoietic cytokine network undergoes a complex remodeling withage.

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