Effects of aging on granulopoietic activity (colony-stimulating factor)

This investigation was undertaken to determine whether there is a decrease of granulopoietic activity in subjects of the geriatric age group. Colony-stimulating factor (CSF) is an alpha glycoprotein which causes proliferation of granulocytes in vitro. A study was made of the variation in the level of CSF with age and the state of health in 78 subjects. They were classified into two groups-young (ages 22-60) and old (ages 70-94). The state of health was classified as normal, acute disease, or chronic disease. The results showed that serum CSF does vary with age and health. The CSF levels were higher in the young than in the old. For both age groups, the CSF levels were elevated in acute disease, and subnormal in chronic disease.