Polymorphism of age-related changes in stimulatory capacity of murine dendritic cells

All through life, regulatory and executive components of the immune system undergo changes, differing in rate and extent, dependent on the genetic background. We have, here, examined age-dependent changes in stimulatory capacity of dendritic cells (DC) in allogeneic mixed leukocyte reaction (MLR). DC of mice of five strains showed very little change as they aged. DC from mice of two other strains showed a significant age-related decrease of stimulatory activity and those of one strain showed an increase. The capacity of DC to stimulate syngeneic MLR was examined in three strains, as a function of age, and was found to decrease in one and to slightly increase in two. The underlying cause for this extensive polymorphism remains to be determined. We could not find supporting evidence for the view that the observed changes were related to changes in Ia density on dendritic cells.