Age-associated changes in subpopulations of human lymphocytes

A. Ben-Zwi, U. Galili, A. Russell, M. Schlesinger*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

39 Scopus citations

Abstract

Lymphocytes from cord bloods, from infants, and from young children were analyzed for their cell surface markers and for their responsiveness to various concentrations of lectins. The results obtained with lymphocytes from young individuals were compared with those obtained with lymphocytes from young adults (18 to 43 years of age) and with lymphocytes from elderly individuals (60 to 92 years of age). The proportion of lymphocytes forming E-rosettes with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) was significantly lower among cord blood lymphocytes than among peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of adults. Cells forming E-rosettes reached adult levels during the third year of life. The proportion of cells forming EAC′-rosettes and stained by fluorescent anti-Ig serum was significantly higher among cord blood lymphocytes than among adult PBL but decreased to the level found in adults during the first year of life. The proportion of cells forming E-rosettes was lower among PBL of elderly individuals than among young adults, but there was no difference between PBL of adults and of elderly individuals in the proportion of cells forming EAC′-rosettes or stained by anti-Ig serum. Cells forming stable E-rosettes, resistant to prolonged incubation at 37°C, were found among cord blood lymphocytes and among PBL of elderly individuals but could not be detected in the blood of children over 1 year of age or among PBL of young adults examined in the present study. Cord blood lymphocytes responded to various concentrations of phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A more vigorously than PBL of young adults. During the first year of life the response of PBL to lectins increased even further and remained higher than that of adult PBL throughout the first 5 years of life. Lymphocytes of 7- to 8-year-old children displayed a responsiveness similar to that of adults. The responsiveness of PBL of elderly individuals to various lectin concentrations did not differ significantly from that of young adult PBL, although as a result of an elevated "spontaneous proliferation," the stimulation indices obtained with PBL of elderly individuals were lower than those obtained with PBL of young adults.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)139-149
Number of pages11
JournalClinical Immunology and Immunopathology
Volume7
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1977

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