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Genetic differences in the age-associated decrease in inducibility of natural killer cells by interferon-α/β
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Genetic differences in the age-associated decrease in inducibility of natural killer cells by interferon-α/β

Artur Plett and Donna M Murasko
Mechanisms of ageing and development, v 112(3), pp 197-215
10 Jan 2000
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0047-6374(99)00091-3
PMID: 10687925
Featured in Collection :   UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel

Abstract

Aging Interferon NK cells
Natural killer (NK) cells, which are important in viral infections and anti-tumor activity, show reduced cytotoxicity in aged mice. The mechanism(s) for this age-related decline in NK activity has not been clearly established. We assessed changes in NK cytotoxicity in splenocytes and peripheral blood mononuclear cells after interferon (IFN)-α/β stimulation in adult (6 months) and aged (22–26 months) C57Bl/6, Balb/c, and (Balb/c×C57Bl/6)F 1 mice. Aged C57Bl/6 and Balb/c mice had a significantly reduced IFN-α/β-stimulated NK cytotoxicity compared to adult mice. In contrast, adult and aged F 1 mice showed similar NK cytotoxicity after IFN-α/β induction. The decreased ability of NK cells of aged mice to respond to induction by IFN-α/β was not due to a requirement for an increased amount of IFN or for a longer period of treatment with IFN. Further, this decreased response did not appear to be the result of suppressive activity of adherent cells or T cells. While the percentage of NK cells (NK1.1+) was similar in adult and aged mice, the (CD8+NK1.1+) subset of NK cells was significantly increased in aged mice. Importantly, the percentage of CD8+NK1.1+ cells was inversely related to the cytotoxicity observed after IFN-α/β treatment.

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15 citations in Web of Science
16 citations in Scopus

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Web of Science research areas
Cell Biology
Geriatrics & Gerontology
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