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(Journal of Leukocyte Biology. 2002;72:65-71.)
© 2002 by Society for Leukocyte Biology

Numerical and functional alterations of circulating T lymphocytes in aged people and centenarians

Katy Argentati^*, Francesca Re^*, Alessia Donnini^*, Maria G. Tucci^*, Claudio Franceschi, Beatrice Bartozzi^*, Giovanni Bernardini^* and Mauro Provinciali^*

^* Laboratory of Tumor Immunology, Immunology Center, INRCA Gerontol. Res. Dept., Ancona, Italy; and
Department of Experimental Pathology, University of Bologna, Italy

Correspondence: Mauro Provinciali, M.D., Laboratory of Tumor Immunology, Immunology Center, INRCA Gerontol. Res. Dept., Via Birarelli 8, 60121 Ancona, Italy. E-mail: m.provinciali{at}inrca.it

The aim of this study was to evaluate the peripheral representation, in vitro expansion, cytokine production, and cytotoxicity of T lymphocytes from 104 healthy subjects ranging in age from 19 to 103 years. We demonstrated that the absolute number of circulating ⁺ T cells was reduced significantly in old people and centenarians in comparison with young subjects as a consequence of the age-related decreased lymphocyte number. The decrease was a result of an age-dependent reduction of V2 T cells, whereas the absolute number of V1 T cells was unaffected by age. As a consequence, the V2/V1 ratio was inverted in old subjects and centenarians. A higher percentage of ⁺ T cells producing tumor necrosis factor was found in old donors and centenarians, whereas no age-related difference was observed in interferon - production. After a 10-day in vitro expansion, a twofold lower expansion index of T cells, and particularly of a V2, but not of a V1 subset, was found in old people and centenarians in comparison with young subjects. The cytotoxicity of sorted T cells was preserved in old people and centenarians. The alteration of T cells could contribute to the age-related derangement of T cell-mediated, adoptive responses and may represent a new characteristic of immunosenescence.

Key Words: aging • human • cellular activation • cytotoxicity

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