Does aging affect the immune status? A comparative analysis in 300 healthy volunteers from France, Austria and Spain

Abstract

BackgroundAs the European population is getting older, there is growing need in scientific data on how to achieve healthy and successful aging. A decline in immune function with age is unanimously supported by many epidemiological and clinical observations, with a decrease in T-cell mediated function encompassing a large part of this alteration. In the EU-funded VITAGE project, the effects of aging on biomarkers of immune status are being studied in three European countries. According to strict inclusion/exclusion criteria, a cohort of 300 healthy male non-smoking 20–75 years old volunteers were enrolled in France (n = 99), Spain (n = 100) and Austria (n = 101). In each country, the volunteers were classified as a function of age (one age group per decade). Biomarkers of immune status were determined including delayed-type hypersensitivity tests, measurement of lymphocyte surface markers, and serum determinations of interleukin-2, complement fractions and immunoglobulins.ResultsThere were moderate differences in the biomarkers of immune status of the VITAGE study volunteers among the three European centres. The percentage of Natural Killer (NK) cells was 156% and 142% higher in Spain as compared to France and Austria, respectively (p < 0.0001), and this increase was observed at any age group above 30 years. Comparison between age-groups showed that in Spain, but not in France or Austria, older individuals had significantly a lower B lymphocyte distribution and conversely, a higher NK cell distribution. Moreover, the CD4/CD8 ratio was positively correlated with age in Austrian subjects (p < 0.0001).ConclusionOur results provide evidence of an increased NK cell distribution in the elderly, especially in the Spanish population. NK cell status may predict morbidity and mortality in the elderly, emphasizing the importance of innate as well as adaptive immunity in ensuring healthy longevity and cancer resistance, possibly in link with the Mediterranean diet.

Immunosenescence of Lymphocytes T and Implications for Age-Related Disorders

“…In turn, in the Leiden 85 + study, only 2% of individuals aged 89 years who participated in the study showed an CD4/CD8 ratio < 1 compared with 20% in those between 70 and 81 years of age. The observed increase in the CD4/CD8 ratio with age was similar to the results obtained by Vasson et al [23] in the Austrian elderly but opposed to the results from Spanish or French population where a trend towards a decreasing CD4/CD8 ratio was observed. The differences between countries/regions can be related to lifestyle factors such as habits, nutrition, physical and mental activity.…”

Age-related changes in T lymphocytes of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

“…In general, higher counts of intratumoral CD8 + T c cells have been related to a better prognosis in different types of cancer including HNSCC [14][15][16]. In addition, we observed a positive correlation between the CD4 + /CD8 + T-cell ratio and age in our healthy subjects (Additional file 1: Figure S1A), which is supported by the data of others [32]. This age-related increase of the CD4 + /CD8 + T-cell ratio was not seen in our group of cancer patients.…”

The inverted CD4:CD8 ratio is associated with gender-related changes in oxidative stress during aging

“…Previous studies indicate that the CD4:CD8 ratio increased with aging, and was associated with OS and inflammatory markers (e.g. CRP and IL-6) [50][51][52][53]. Similarly, previous studies indicate that the CMV seropositivity was strongly correlated to inverted CD4:CD8 ratio, and the amount of IgG antibodies to CMV specifically influenced this inversion [1][2][3][4]54].…”