Autoimmunity and normal immune functions in aged humans

The high frequency of ANA, A-LDL and RF in advanced age suggests that AABs are present in the majority of aged subjects. CIC incidence determined by three methods is far below AAB incidence; only the Clq solubility test suggests an increased CIC incidence in aged as compared to young subjects. Simultaneous occurrence of AABs of different specificities or CIC determined by two or three methods is rare and both AAB and CIC levels are usually low. AAB prevalence in CIC-positive individuals seems to depend on the specificity of the AAB. CIC positivity is associated with relatively low Clq concentrations; however, usually not with Clq concentrations below the normal range. Neither ANA nor CIC positivity seems to correlate with DNA synthetic response to PHA, but ANA positivity may be associated with low responses to allogeneic cells. ANA positivity and, to a lesser extent, CIC positivity seems to be connected with enhanced killer cell activity. The concept of some AABs and CIC as autoregulatory factors of the humoral immune system compensating for the thymus-dependent regulation in old age is stressed.