@article{f796600e0407457095933745b6b6881a,
title = "IgE regulation and lymphokine patterns in aging humans",
abstract = "IgE production declines with age, and allergic symptoms tend to improve. Aging therefore represents an in vivo model to study IgE regulation. We compared IgE production in older (≥ 60 years old) and young (15 to 30 years old) nonatopic individuals. Addition of exogenous interleukin-4 (IL-4) to mononuclear cells from older and young subjects induced equivalent amounts of IgE, indicating that IL-4 responsiveness is preserved in aging. After surface receptor stimulation with concanavalin A, IL-4 production by mononuclear cells from older subjects was approximately 50% as compared with the young, whereas interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production was reduced threefold (p = 0.008). By contrast, stimulation with phorbol esters and ionophore, which bypass surface receptor signaling, induced comparable amounts of IL-4 and IFN-γ in older and young subjects. These data point to an impairment in T-cell membrane signal transduction in older individuals. This hypothesis was directly confirmed by showing that Ca+2 fluxes after CD3 crosslinking were significantly (p = 0.014) decreased in the older population. Our findings altogether suggest that an age-dependent T-cell activation defect may result in decreased availability of IL-4 and in the waning of IgE responses.",
keywords = "IFN-γ, IL-4, IgE, aging, calcium fluxes, lymphokines",
author = "Hassan Al-Rayes and William Pachas and Nadim Mirza and Ahern, {Deborah J.} and Geha, {Raif S.} and Donata Vercelli",
note = "Funding Information: From the Molecular and Experimental Medicine Research Institute of Scripps Clinic, La Jolla. Supported in part by grants RR00833 and AI10386 from the Na-tional Instituteso f Health and grant 1990-14f rom the Department of Medicine of Scripps Clinic. Dr. Juergens supported in part by the German Society of Internal Medicine and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Bonn, Germany. Received for publication Dec. 17, 1991. Revised June 9, 1992. Accepted for publication June 15, 1992. Publication no. 6786-MEM from The Scripps Research Institute. Reprint requests:B ruce L. Zuraw, MD, The Scripps Research In-stitute, 10666N . Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, CA 92037. l/1/40235 Funding Information: From the Division of Immunology, Children{\textquoteright}s Hospital/ Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, and Division of Rheumatology, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital,” Boston. Supportedb y National Institutes of Health grants ROlA122058 and POlAGO4727 (to R.S.G.). Donata Vercelli was the recipient of a Burroughs Wellcome Fund Developing Investigator Award in Immunopharmacologyo f Allergic Diseases. Received for publication Jan. 15, 1992. Revised June 3, 1992. Accepted for publication June 15, 1992. Reprint requests: Donata Vercelli, MD, Division of Immunology, Children{\textquoteright}s Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA 02115.",
year = "1992",
month = oct,
doi = "10.1016/0091-6749(92)90136-P",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "90",
pages = "630--636",
journal = "The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology",
issn = "0091-6749",
publisher = "Mosby Inc.",
number = "4 PART 1",
}