Specific effect of age on lectin-induced mitogenesis of lymphocytes from diseased patients

Using several models of multivariate analysis, it is found that age per se is a specific determinant on the in vitro lymphocyte response to phytohemagglutinin A in a random sample of 30 diseased patients. Depending upon the used model, sex and lymphocyte subsets appear as other significant variables. The multiple regression coefficients reach 0.85. A 2% fall per decade is expected for phytohemagglutinin A responsiveness expressed in 1n cpm.