Naslov
The age related decline of perforin expression in human cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells

Autori
Rukavina, Daniel ; Laškarin, Gordana ; Rubeša, Gordana ; Štrbo, Nataša ; Bedenicki, Ivica ; Manestar, Darko ; Glavaš, Mario ; Christmas, Stephen E. ; Podack, Eckhard R.

Izvornik
Blood (0006-4971) 92 (1998), 7; 2410-2420

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
Perforin; cord blood lymphocytes; peripheral blood lymphocytes; ageing; NK cytotoxicity; T lymphocytes; NK cells

Sažetak
In this study a flow cytometric technique for detecting cytoplasmic perforin (P) has been employed to quantify age-related changes in perforin expression in human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Proportions of P+ lymphocytes increased after birth but declined rapidly after the age of 70 years. This was true for both T cells and CD16+ and CD56+ NK cells. Children showed in addition to high levels of perforin positive CD8+ cells a much higher proportion of CD4+P+ cells than the other age groups. In elderly individuals there was also a highly significant reduction in mean levels of perforin per cell as compared with all other groups (p<0.05 - 0.001). Adult women had consistently higher mean levels of perforin per cell than adult men for all P+ cell phenotypes. Functional tests clearly showed the deficiency in early spontaneous cytotoxic potential of PBL from elderly persons due to relative P deficiency, which can be corrected by stimulation of cytolytic cells with target cells and IL-2. The deficiency in cytolytic activity upon the contact with target cells may have implications for antiviral and antitumor immunity in elderly persons.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Kliničke medicinske znanosti

POVEZANOST RADA