1. Changes in circulating B cells and immunoglobulin classes and subclasses in a healthy aged population.
- Author
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Paganelli, R., Quinti, I., Fagiolo, U., Cossarizza, A., Ortolani, C., Guerra, E., Sansoni, P., Pucillo, L. P., Scala, E., Cozzi, E., Bertollo, L., Monti, D., and Franceschi, C.
- Subjects
B cells ,IMMUNOGLOBULIN G ,IMMUNOGLOBULIN A ,BLOOD plasma ,LYMPHOCYTES ,IMMUNE system - Abstract
The study of 87 adults of different ages, including 15 centenarians, selected for their healthy status, showed that profound changes of humoral immunity occur throughout life. In particular, a Statistically significant age-related increase of the serum level of immunoglobulin classes (IgG and IgA but not IgM) and IgG subclasses (IgGl, 2 and 3, but not IgG4) was detected. A parallel age related decrease of circulating B cells was also observed. The hypothesis of a complex derangement of B cell function and/or compartmentalization with age is put forward, together with the proposal that healthy centenarians (as representative of successful ageing) may be helpful in identifying the physiological age-related modifications of the immune system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 1992