Interleukin-1 production by human monocytes in ageing and disease

Interleukin-1 mediates the febrile response which is often said to be reduced in the elderly. Interleukin-1 production by monocytes cultured in vitro and stimulated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide was measured. Three groups of subjects were studied; 40 normal young, 33 well elderly and 40 elderly with a history of repeated infection. No difference in interleukin-1 secretion was found between the groups. When the group with recurrent infection was subdivided into those with a history of fever and those with no record of fever accompanying their infection, the group without fever produced significantly less interleukin-1 (p = 0.035).