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Distinct categories of immunologic changes in frail elderly
J L Fahey1, J F Schnelle, J Boscardin
1Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Immunology and Disease (CIRID) and the UCLA AIDS Institute and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, UCLA School of Medicine, 90095-1747, Los Angeles, CA, USA. jlfahey@mednet.ucla.edu
Mechanisms of Ageing and Development
|June 16, 2000
Summary
Frail elderly exhibit distinct immune system changes, including elevated activation markers and altered T cell profiles, impacting immune responses. These findings reveal key immune clusters in aging populations.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Gerontology
- Cellular Biology
Background:
- Previous studies on elderly immune changes often examined limited parameters without correlation.
- Populations studied were typically active elderly and in smaller numbers.
- Immune system alterations are a hallmark of aging, particularly in frail individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively define immune system changes in a frail elderly population.
- To analyze the relationships and correlations between various immune parameters.
- To compare immune profiles of frail elderly with a healthy younger control group.
Main Methods:
- Quantified 33 immune parameters in 116 frail elderly individuals (age 70-103) and a younger control group.
- Employed classification tree analysis to identify distinguishing immune markers.
- Utilized principal components, partial correlations, and factor analyses to cluster immune parameters.
Main Results:
- Frail elderly showed increased plasma activation markers (neopterin, sTNF-R) and elevated CD28 expression on CD8 T cells.
- Immune parameters clustered into three main groups: cytokine activity, T cell maturation, and functional/phenotypic changes.
- Impaired proliferative response, reduced T cells, altered B cell percentages, and lower CD4:CD8 ratios were observed.
Conclusions:
- Immune changes in the frail elderly are not isolated but occur in interconnected clusters.
- Elevated cytokine activity, shifts in T cell populations, and functional impairments characterize the aged immune system.
- Specific markers like neopterin, sTNF-R, and CD28 expression are key differentiators between aged and younger immune profiles.
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