Abstract
In this study a flow cytometric technique for detecting cytoplasmic perforin (P) has been used to quantify age-related changes in perforin expression in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). 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+ natural killer (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 < .05 to .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 interleukin-2 (IL-2). The deficiency in cytolytic activity on the contact with target cells may have implications for antiviral and antitumor immunity in elderly persons.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 2410-2420 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Blood |
Volume | 92 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 1 1998 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry
- Immunology
- Hematology
- Cell Biology