HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Beharka, A. A. Articles by Meydani, S. N. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Beharka, A. A. Articles by Meydani, S. N.

Effect of Age on the Gastrointestinal-Associated Mucosal Immune Response of Humans

^a Nutritional Immunology, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts
^b Gastrointestinal Nutrition Laboratories, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts
^c Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, UNESP, San Paolo, Brazil

Simin Nikbin Meydani, Nutritional Immunology Laboratory, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, 711 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111 E-mail: smeydani{at}HNRC.Tufts.edu.

Decision Editor: John A. Faulkner, PhD

Age-related changes in gastrointestinal-associated mucosal immune response have not been well studied. Thus, we investigated the effect of age on this response and compared these responses to those of peripheral immune cells. Saliva, blood, and intestinal biopsies were collected from young and old healthy subjects to determine immunoglobulin (Ig) levels and to isolate peripheral blood mononuclear cells, intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs), and lamina propria lymphocytes (LPLs). Although subject age did not influence the level of total IgA found in saliva, IgA levels in serum increased (p < .05) with age. Older subjects' peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferation and IL-2 production were significantly lower than those of young subjects. LPLs from older subjects produced significantly less IL-2 in response to all stimuli than did that from the young. IEL's ability to proliferate and produce IL-2 was not affected by subject age. Thus, LPL but not IEL demonstrated an age-related decline in immune function similar to that seen in peripheral lymphocytes.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. Fayad, H. Zhang, D. Quinn, Y. Huang, and L. Qiao Oral Administration with Papillomavirus Pseudovirus Encoding IL-2 Fully Restores Mucosal and Systemic Immune Responses to Vaccinations in Aged Mice J. Immunol., August 15, 2004; 173(4): 2692 - 2698. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				O. Adolfsson, S. N. Meydani, and R. M Russell Yogurt and gut function Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, August 1, 2004; 80(2): 245 - 256. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]