HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kizaki, T. Articles by Ohno, H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kizaki, T. Articles by Ohno, H.

(Journal of Leukocyte Biology. 2000;68:21-30.)
© 2000 by Society for Leukocyte Biology

Age-associated increase of basal corticosterone levels decreases ED2^high, NF-B^high activated macrophages

Takako Kizaki^*, Tomomi Ookawara, Kazuya Iwabuchi, Kazunori Onoé, Noorbibi K. Day, Robert A. Good, Naoki Maruyama^||, Shukoh Haga^#, Nobuo Matsuura^**, Yoshinobu Ohira and Hideki Ohno^*

^* Department of Hygiene, Kyorin University, School of Medicine, Mitaka, Tokyo;
Department of Hygiene, National Defense Medical College, Tokorozawa, Saitama;
Section of Pathology, Institute of Immunological Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido;
^|| Department of Molecular Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo;
^# Institute of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaragi;
^** Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa;
Department of Physiology and Biomechanics, National Institute of Fitness and Sports, Kanoya, Kagoshima, Japan; and
Department of Pediatrics, All Children’s Hospital, St. Petersburg, Florida

Correspondence: Takako Kizaki, Ph.D., Department of Hygiene, Kyorin University, School of Medicine, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-8611, Japan. E-mail: kizaki{at}kyorin-u.ac.jp

The proportion of cells with a high density of ED2 (ED2^high cells) in peritoneal cells from old rats was significantly lower than that from young rats. The expression of major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC class II) molecules, the antigen presentation, production of interleukin (IL)-1ß and IL-6, and nuclear factor-B activity in ED2^high cells were markedly higher than those in cells with a low density of ED2 (ED2^low cells), although no significant difference was observed in the expression of MHC class II molecules and the antigen presentation between ED2^high cells from young and old rats. Meanwhile, basal corticosterone concentration in serum and glucocorticoid (GC) receptor mRNA expression in peritoneal cells increased significantly in old rats. The proportion of ED2^high cells was increased by adrenalectomy in young rats. Furthermore, nuclear translocation of GC receptor was observed in ED2^low cells, whereas GC receptor was detected in cytoplasmic extracts from ED2^high cells. These results suggest that the decrease in functional ED2^high macrophages with age results in the age-associated decline of immune responses, which is regulated, in part, by the basal GC concentration.

Key Words: antigen presentation • cytokines • transcription factors • immunomodulators

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. Kizaki, K. Suzuki, Y. Hitomi, N. Taniguchi, D. Saitoh, K. Watanabe, K. Onoe, N. K. Day, R. A. Good, and H. Ohno Uncoupling protein 2 plays an important role in nitric oxide production of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages PNAS, July 9, 2002; 99(14): 9392 - 9397. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]