Activation of calcium (Ca)-dependent protein kinase C in aged mesenteric lymph node T and B cells

We studied the effects of aging on the activities and translocation of Ca-dependent protein kinase C (PKC) in resting mesenteric lymph node (MLN) T and B cells during the activation process induced by T and B cell mitogens and B cell-stimulatory interleukins, including IL-4, IL-5 and IL-6. The activation process in senescent, resting (high density (HD)) MLN T cells is impaired, when these cells are stimulated with T cell mitogen, Con A. The defect in activation is associated with a reduction in both the new production of inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3) (an indicator for the production of intracellular free Ca) and the induction of Ca-dependent PKC. In contrast, the activation of the aged B cells with LPS plus/minus interleukins (IL-4, IL-5 and IL-6) is not impaired, being at least associated with a Ca-independent pathway of PKC activation. The elevated IP3 content and total (cytosol plus membrane) PKC activity in both resting T and B cells from aged MLN along with the greater difference in T cells than in B cells suggest that the in vivo Go cell cycle status of these cells may differ from that of the young, involving more in T cells. Finally, the MLN and splenic T cell Ca-dependent and B cell Ca-independent PKC activation do not differ between both age groups.