Natural Killer Cells, Aging, and Vaccination.

Aging is associated with changes in the immune system. Both (innate and adaptive) arms of the immune system are involved. Natural killer (NK) cells are part of the innate immune system. They participate in host defense by eliminating cells that are virally infected, transformed, or senescent. They are also able to modulate the adaptive part of the immune system. As all cells, NK cells are subjected to changes with aging, which affects both their phenotype and functions. Aging is associated with various latent chronic viral infections, and the most significant among them is CMV. It is difficult to distinguish between the influence of CMV infection and that of aging itself on the NK cell properties. Recently, NK cells have been shown to be an important player in vaccine efficacy, which is also decreased with aging. In this chapter, we describe age-related changes in NK cells and their possible influence on the efficacy of vaccination in old age.

Profile of pathogenic proteins in total circulating extracellular vesicles in mild cognitive impairment and during the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

Accumulating evidence suggests that the propagation of hyperphosphorylation of tau protein and the amyloid-ß peptide can be mediated by extracellular vesicles (EVs) and be associated with the onset and the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). As EVs may transfer between the brain and the blood, we have thus hypothesized that the total plasma EVs (pEVs) may contain potential markers to predict the mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD progression. We have thus quantified AD-related proteins in isolated pEVs from controls, MCI and AD subjects. In pEVs, we observed early changes of total tau (tTau), amyloid precursor protein levels, and phospho-tau (pTau)-T181/tTau ratio from MCI subjects and late increases of Aß42 and pTau-T181 levels from patients with moderate AD. Interestingly, abnormal amyloid precursor protein levels and pTau-T181/tTau ratio in pEVs demonstrated a high accuracy to define MCI and AD staging. Although larger samples sizes will be needed to generate well-powered investigations, these preliminary results highlighted the potential of AD-related proteins enriched in pEVs as a sensitive tool for differentiating patients with MCI to patients with AD and monitoring AD progression.

The role of elastin-derived peptides in human physiology and diseases.

Once considered as inert, the extracellular matrix recently revealed to be biologically active. Elastin is one of the most important components of the extracellular matrix. Many vital organs including arteries, lungs and skin contain high amounts of elastin to assure their correct function. Physiologically, the organism contains a determined quantity of elastin from the early development which may remain physiologically constant due to its very long half-life and very low turnover. Taking into consideration the continuously ongoing challenges during life, there is a physiological degradation of elastin into elastin-derived peptides which is accentuated in several disease states such as obstructive pulmonary diseases, atherosclerosis and aortic aneurysm. These elastin-derived peptides have been shown to have various biological effects mediated through their interaction with their cognate receptor called elastin receptor complex eliciting several signal transduction pathways. In this review, we will describe the production and the biological effects of elastin-derived peptides in physiology and pathology.

Blood-based redox-signature and their association to the cognitive scores in MCI and Alzheimer's disease patients.

Oxidative stress plays a pivotal and early role in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). There is convincing evidence that oxidative alterations in AD and in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients are not limited to the brain but are extended to the blood compartment. However, the oxidative pattern in plasma is still inconclusive. Moreover, their potential association with the clinical scores MMSE (Mini-Mental State Examination) and MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) is poorly investigated. The aim of our study was to establish a pattern of blood-based redox alterations in prodromal AD and their evolution during the progression of the disease. Our results showed a reduction in the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and an increase of the stress-response proteins apolipoprotein J (ApoJ) and Klotho in MCI subjects. For the first time, we evidenced circulating-proteasome activity. We found that the alteration of the circulating-proteasome activity is associated with the accumulation of oxidized proteins in plasma form early AD. Interestingly, the TAC, the levels of vitamin D and the activity of proteasome were positively associated to the clinical scores MMSE and MoCA. The levels of protein carbonyls and of ApoJ were negatively associated to the MMSE and MoCA scores. The levels of apolipoprotein D (ApoD) were not different between groups. Interestingly, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves analysis indicated that these redox markers provide a fair classification of different groups with high accuracy. Overall, our results strengthen the notion that some specific oxidative markers could be considered as non-invasive blood-based biomarkers for an early MCI diagnosis and AD progression.

Signal transduction changes in CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subpopulations with aging.

The innate and adaptive branches of the immune system display changes with aging, a fact referred to as immunosenescence. Furthermore, it has been established that adaptive immunity is more susceptible to age-related changes than innate immunity. The most prominent phenotypic changes that reflect the specific differentiation and role of each T cell subpopulation are two-fold. They are a decreased number of naïve T cells that parallels an increase in memory T cells, mainly in the cytotoxic CD8+ T cell population, which can be subdivided into naïve, central, effector memory and TEMRA cells. The two main T cell properties that are the most affected with aging are the altered clonal expansion and decreased cytokine production, especially IL-2. These T cell functions have been shown to be affected in the early events of signaling. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of age on TCR- and CD28-dependent activation of the downstream signaling effectors Lck, SHP-1, Akt, PI3K p85α and mTOR in differentiated subpopulations of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Results showed that lymphocytes of elderly subjects were already in an activated state that could not be upregulated by external stimulation. Results also showed that the age-related signal transduction changes were more important than phenotype in the CD4+ and CD8+ T subpopulations. These observations suggested that age-related molecular and biochemical changes have a more significant influence on T cell functions than T cell phenotype.

Role of the peripheral innate immune system in the development of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease is one of the most devastating neurodegenerative diseases. The exact cause of the disease is still not known although many scientists believe in the beta amyloid hypothesis which states that the accumulation of the amyloid peptide beta (Aß) in brain is the initial cause which consequently leads to pathological neuroinflammation. However, it was recently shown that Aß may have an important role in defending the brain against infections. Thus, the balance between positive and negative impact of Aß may determine disease progression. Microglia in the brain are innate immune cells, and brain-initiated inflammatory responses reflected in the periphery suggests that Alzheimer's disease is to some extent also a systemic inflammatory disease. Greater permeability of the blood brain barrier facilitates the transport of peripheral immune cells to the brain and vice versa so that a vicious circle originating on the periphery may contribute to the development of overt clinical AD. Persistent inflammatory challenges by pathogens in the periphery, increasing with age, may also contribute to the central propagation of the pathological changes seen clinically. Therefore, the activation status of peripheral innate immune cells may represent an early biomarker of the upcoming impact on the brain. The modulation of these cells may thus become a useful mechanism for modifying disease progression.

Polymorphonuclear Neutrophil Functions are Differentially Altered in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment and Mild Alzheimer's Disease Patients.

The mechanisms of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD) remain under investigation. Alterations in the blood-brain barrier facilitate exchange of inflammatory mediators and immune cells between the brain and the periphery in AD. Here, we report analysis of phenotype and functions of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) in peripheral blood from patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI, n = 13), patients with mild AD (mAD, n = 15), and healthy elderly controls (n = 13). Results showed an increased expression of CD177 in mAD but not in healthy or aMCI patients. IL-8 stimulated increased expression of the CD11b integrin in PMN of healthy subjects in vitro but PMN of aMCI and mAD patients failed to respond. CD14 and CD16 expression was lower in PMN of mAD but not in aMCI individuals relative to controls. Only PMN of aMCI subjects expressed lower levels of CD88. Phagocytosis toward opsonized E. coli was differentially impaired in PMN of aMCI and mAD subjects whereas the capacity to ingest Dextran particles was absent only in mAD subjects. Killing activity was severely impaired in aMCI and mAD subjects whereas free radical production was only impaired in mAD patients. Inflammatory cytokine (TNFα, IL-6, IL-1ß, IL-12p70) and chemokine (MIP-1α, MIP-1ß, IL-8) production in response to LPS stimulation was very low in aMCI and nearly absent in mAD subjects. TLR2 expression was low only in aMCI. Our data showed a differentially altered capacity of PMN of aMCI and mAD subjects to respond to pathological aggression that may impact impaired responses associated with AD development.

Differential Phenotypes of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor and T Regulatory Cells and Cytokine Levels in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment Subjects Compared to Mild Alzheimer Diseased Patients.

Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of dementia although the underlying cause(s) remains unknown at this time. However, neuroinflammation is believed to play an important role and suspected contributing immune parameters can be revealed in studies comparing patients at the stage of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) to healthy age-matched individuals. A network of immune regulatory cells including regulatory T cells (Tregs) and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) maintains immune homeostasis but there are very few data on the role of these cells in AD. Here, we investigated the presence of these cells in the blood of subjects with aMCI and mild AD (mAD) in comparison with healthy age-matched controls. We also quantitated several pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in sera which can influence the development and activation of these cells. We found significantly higher levels of MDSCs and Tregs in aMCI but not in mAD patients, as well as higher serum IL-1ß levels. Stratifying the subjects based on CMV serostatus that is known to influence multiple immune parameters showed an absence of differences between aMCI subjects compared to mAD patients and healthy controls. We suggest that the increase in MDSCs and Tregs number in aMCI subjects may have a beneficial role in modulating inflammatory processes. However, this protective mechanism may have failed in mAD patients, allowing progression of the disease. This working hypothesis obviously requires testing in future studies.

Human Plasma Thioredoxin-80 Increases With Age and in ApoE-/- Mice Induces Inflammation, Angiogenesis, and Atherosclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Thioredoxin (TRX)-1, a ubiquitous 12-kDa protein, exerts antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. In contrast, the truncated form, called TRX80, produced by macrophages induces upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines. TRX80 also promotes the differentiation of mouse peritoneal and human macrophages toward a proinflammatory M1 phenotype. METHODS: TRX1 and TRX80 plasma levels were determined with a specific ELISA. A disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain-containing protein (ADAM)-10, ADAM-17, and ADAM-10 activities were measured with SensoLyte 520 ADAM10 Activity Assay Kit, Fluorimetric, and InnoZyme TACE Activity Kit, respectively. Western immunoblots were performed with specific antibodies to ADAM-10 or ADAM-17. Angiogenesis study was evaluated in vitro with human microvascular endothelial cells-1 and in vivo with the Matrigel plug angiogenesis assay in mice. The expression of macrophage phenotype markers was investigated with real-time polymerase chain reaction. Phosphorylation of Akt, mechanistic target of rapamycin, and 70S6K was determined with specific antibodies. The effect of TRX80 on NLRP3 inflammasome activity was evaluated by measuring the level of interleukin-1ß and -18 in the supernatants of activated macrophages with ELISA. Hearts were used for lesion surface evaluation and immunohistochemical studies, and whole descending aorta were stained with Oil Red O. For transgenic mice generation, the human scavenger receptor (SR-A) promoter/enhancer was used to drive macrophage-specific expression of human TRX80 in mice. RESULTS: In this study, we observed a significant increase of plasma levels of TRX80 in old subjects compared with healthy young subjects. In parallel, an increase in expression and activity of ADAM-10 and ADAM-17 in old peripheral blood mononuclear cells compared with those of young subjects was observed. Furthermore, TRX80 was found to colocalize with tumor necrosis factor-α, a macrophage M1 marker, in human atherosclerotic plaque. In addition, TRX80 induced the expression of murine M1 macrophage markers through Akt2/mechanistic target of rapamycin-C1/70S6K pathway and activated the inflammasome NLRP3, leading to the release of interleukin-1ß and -18, potent atherogenic cytokines. Moreover, TRX80 exerts a powerful angiogenic effect in both in vitro and in vivo mouse studies. Finally, transgenic mice that overexpress human TRX80 specifically in macrophages of apoE-/- mice have a significant increase of aortic atherosclerotic lesions. CONCLUSIONS: TRX80 showed an age-dependent increase in human plasma. In mouse models, TRX80 was associated with a proinflammatory status and increased atherosclerosis.

Alteration of high-density lipoprotein functionality in Alzheimer's disease patients.

The aims of the present study were to determine whether high-density lipoprotein (HDL) functionality-mediated cholesterol efflux is altered in Alzheimer's disease and to investigate the role and effect of amyloid-beta (Aß) in the regulation of the anti-atherogenic activity of HDL. Eighty-seven elderly subjects were recruited, of whom 27 were healthy, 27 had mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 33 had mild Alzheimer's disease (mAD). Our results showed that total cholesterol levels are negatively correlated with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score (r = -0.2602, p = 0.0182). HDL from the mAD patients was less efficient at mediating cholesterol efflux from J774 macrophages (p < 0.05) than HDL from the healthy subjects and MCI patients. While HDL from the MCI patients was also less efficient at mediating cholesterol efflux than HDL from the healthy subjects, the difference was not significant. Interestingly, the difference between the healthy subjects and the MCI and mAD patients with respect to the capacity of HDL to mediate cholesterol efflux disappeared when ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1)-enriched J774 macrophages were used. HDL fluidity was significantly inversely correlated with the MMSE scores (r = -0.4137, p < 0.009). In vitro measurements of cholesterol efflux using J774 macrophages showed that neither Aß1-40 nor Aß1-42 stimulate cholesterol efflux from unenriched J774 macrophages in basal or ABCA1-enriched J774 macrophages.

Immunosenescence and Inflamm-Aging As Two Sides of the Same Coin: Friends or Foes?

The immune system is the most important protective physiological system of the organism. It has many connections with other systems and is, in fact, often considered as part of the larger neuro-endocrine-immune axis. Most experimental data on immune changes with aging show a decline in many immune parameters when compared to young healthy subjects. The bulk of these changes is termed immunosenescence. Immunosenescence has been considered for some time as detrimental because it often leads to subclinical accumulation of pro-inflammatory factors and inflamm-aging. Together, immunosenescence and inflamm-aging are suggested to stand at the origin of most of the diseases of the elderly, such as infections, cancer, autoimmune disorders, and chronic inflammatory diseases. However, an increasing number of immune-gerontologists have challenged this negative interpretation of immunosenescence with respect to its significance in aging-related alterations of the immune system. If one considers these changes from an evolutionary perspective, they can be viewed preferably as adaptive or remodeling rather than solely detrimental. Whereas it is conceivable that global immune changes may lead to various diseases, it is also obvious that these changes may be needed for extended survival/longevity. Recent cumulative data suggest that, without the existence of the immunosenescence/inflamm-aging duo (representing two sides of the same phenomenon), human longevity would be greatly shortened. This review summarizes recent data on the dynamic reassessment of immune changes with aging. Accordingly, attempts to intervene on the aging immune system by targeting its rejuvenation, it may be more suitable to aim to maintain general homeostasis and function by appropriately improving immune-inflammatory-functions.

Roles of calpain-calpastatin system (CCS) in human T cell activation.

The immune response is determined by the speed of the T cell reaction to antigens assured by a state of readiness for proliferation and cytokine secretion. Proliferation, apoptosis and motion of many cell types are controlled by cytoplasmic proteases - µ- and m-calpain - and their inhibitor calpastatin, together forming the "calpain-calpastatin system" (CCS), assumed to modify their targets only upon activation-dependent cytoplasmic Ca2+ increase. Contrastingly to this notion, using quantitative real time PCR and semiquantitative flow cytometry respectively, we show here that the CCS genes are constitutively expressed, and that both calpains are constitutively active in resting, circulating human CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes. Furthermore, we demonstrate that calpain inhibition in the resting T cells prevents them from proliferation in vitro and greatly reduces secretion of multiple cytokines. The mechanistic reason for these effects of calpain inhibition on T cell functions might be the demonstrated significant reduction of the expression of active (phosphorylated) upstream signalling molecules, including the phospholipase C gamma, p56Lck and NFκB, in the inhibitor-treated cells. Thus, we propose that the constitutive, self-regulatory calpain-calpastatin system activity in resting human T cells is a necessary, controlling element of their readiness for complex and effective response to antigenic challenge.

Protective Effect of Amyloid-ß Peptides Against Herpes Simplex Virus-1 Infection in a Neuronal Cell Culture Model.

Senile amyloid plaques are one of the main hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). They correspond to insoluble deposits of amyloid-ß peptides (Aß) and are responsible for the inflammatory response and neurodegeneration that lead to loss of memory. Recent data suggest that Aß possess antimicrobial and anti-viral activity in vitro. Here, we have used cocultures of neuroglioma (H4) and glioblastoma (U118-MG) cells as a minimal in vitro model to investigate whether Aß is produced by neuroglioma cells and whether this could result in protective anti-viral activity against HSV-1 infection. Results showed that H4 cells secreted Aß42 in response to HSV-1 challenge and that U118-MG cells could rapidly internalize Aß42. Production of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNFα and IL-1ß by H4 and U118-MG cells occurred under basal conditions but infection of the cells with HSV-1 did not significantly upregulate production. Both cell lines produced low levels of IFNα. However, extraneous Aß42 induced strong production of these cytokines. A combination of Aß42 and HSV-1 induced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNFα and IL-1ß, and IFNα in the cell lines. The reported anti-viral protection of Aß42 was revealed in transfer experiments involving conditioned medium (CM) of HSV-1-infected H4 cells. CM conferred Aß-dependent protection against HSV-1 replication in de novo cultures of H4 cells challenged with HSV-1. Type 1 interferons did not play a role in these assays. Our data established that H4 neuroglioma cells produced Aß42 in response to HSV-1 infection thus inhibiting secondary replication. This mechanism may play a role in the etiology of AD.

Altered neutrophil functions in elderly patients during a 6-month follow-up period after a hip fracture.

BACKGROUND: Fracture of the hip (HF) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in elderly individuals. HF is an acute stress that triggers a state of inflammation which may affect immune responses and physical recovery. METHODS: Longitudinal study of the impact of HF on the functions of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) in elderly subjects. Data were recorded prior to surgery, 6weeks and 6months later. RESULTS: PMN functions were severely impaired shortly after HF (chemotaxis, phagocytosis, superoxide production) but there was a time-related recovery of some PMN functions (chemotaxis, phagocytosis) over time, except in the case of superoxide production. Whereas FcγRII (CD32) expression remained unchanged, FcγRIII (CD16) increased from low values before surgery to levels of controls 6months post-surgery. This was also the case for the C5a complement receptor and CD11b. TLR2 and TLR4 expressions were unchanged. Cytokine and chemokine secretions by stimulated PMN were altered. TNFα and IL-10 secretions were increased following HF but IL-8 secretion was decreased. Impaired PMN functions prior to surgery were related to alterations in PI3K and NF-κB signaling pathways. Recovery of these functions paralleled increased PI3K activity, although superoxide production remained low. Sustained activation of the NF-κB pathway by TNFα has been reported to involve upregulation of IKKß kinase activity. Activated IKKß kinase inhibits ERK1/2 and results in concomitant downstream inhibition of NADPH oxidase complex which can account for sustained impaired production of ROS in HF patients. CONCLUSION: Our data showed that the stress caused by HF negatively affects initial PMN responses shortly after the event and that may negatively influence clinical outcomes such as resolving long-term inflammation and recovery, as well as explaining susceptibility to opportunistic infections.

NK Cells are Activated in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment but not in Mild Alzheimer's Disease Patients.

Alzheimers disease (AD) is a progressive irreversible neurological brain disorder characterized by accumulation of amyloid-ß, amyloid plaques, and neurofibrillary tangles. Inflammation and immune alterations have been linked to AD, suggesting that the peripheral immune system plays a role during the asymptomatic period of AD. NK cells participate in innate immune surveillance against intracellular pathogens and malignancy but their role in AD remains controversial. We have investigated changes in peripheral NK cell phenotypes and functions in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI, n = 10), patients with mild AD (mAD, n = 11), and healthy elderly controls (n = 10). Patients selected according to NINCDS-ADRDA criteria were classified using neuropsychological assessment tests. Phenotype analysis revealed differences in expression of CD16 (increased in mAD), NKG2A (decreased in aMCI), and TLR2 and TLR9 (both decreased in mAD). Functional assays revealed that NK cell killing activity and degranulation (CD107 expression) were unchanged in the three groups. In contrast, expression of the CD95 receptor was increased in aMCI and mAD. Granzyme B expression and cytokine production (TNFα, IFNγ) were increased in aMCI but not in mAD. CCL19- but not CCL21-dependent chemotaxis was decreased in aMCI and mAD, despite the fact that CCR7 expression was increased in aMCI. Our data suggest that the number of alterations observed in peripheral NK cells in aMCI represent an activation state compared to mAD patients and that may reflect an active immune response against a still to be defined aggression.

ß-Amyloid peptides display protective activity against the human Alzheimer's disease-associated herpes simplex virus-1.

Amyloid plaques, the hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD), contain fibrillar ß-amyloid (Aß) 1-40 and 1-42 peptides. Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) has been implicated as a risk factor for AD and found to co-localize within amyloid plaques. Aß 1-40 and Aß 1-42 display anti-bacterial, anti-yeast and anti-viral activities. Here, fibroblast, epithelial and neuronal cell lines were exposed to Aß 1-40 or Aß 1-42 and challenged with HSV-1. Quantitative analysis revealed that Aß 1-40 and Aß 1-42 inhibited HSV-1 replication when added 2 h prior to or concomitantly with virus challenge, but not when added 2 or 6 h after virus addition. In contrast, Aß 1-40 and Aß 1-42 did not prevent replication of the non-enveloped human adenovirus. In comparison, antimicrobial peptide LL-37 prevented HSV-1 infection independently of its sequence of addition. Our findings showed also that Aß 1-40 and Aß 1-42 acted directly on HSV-1 in a cell-free system and prevented viral entry into cells. The sequence homology between Aß and a proximal transmembrane region of HSV-1 glycoprotein B suggested that Aß interference with HSV-1 replication could involve its insertion into the HSV-1 envelope. Our data suggest that Aß peptides represent a novel class of antimicrobial peptides that protect against neurotropic enveloped virus infections such as HSV-1. Overproduction of Aß peptide to protect against latent herpes viruses and eventually against other infections, may contribute to amyloid plaque formation, and partially explain why brain infections play a pathogenic role in the progression of the sporadic form of AD.

Cellular signaling in the aging immune system.

Causes for immunosenescence and inflamm-aging have to be established. Efficient function of the immune system requires homeostatic regulation from receptor recognition of antigenic challenge to cell responses and adaptation to its changing environment. It is reasonable to assume that one of the most important molecular causes of immunosenescence is alteration in the regulation of signaling pathways. Indeed, alterations in feed-forward and negative feedback (inhibitory) signaling have been highlighted in all cells involved in the immune response including short-lived (neutrophils) and long-lived (T lymphocytes) cells. These dysregulations tip the balance in favor of altered (less efficient) function of the immune system. In this review, we summarize our knowledge on signal transduction changes in the aging immune system and propose a unifying mechanism as one of the causes of immunosenescence. Modulation of these pathways with aging represents a major challenge to restore the immune response to functional levels.

Downregulation of inhibitory SRC homology 2 domain-containing phosphatase-1 (SHP-1) leads to recovery of T cell responses in elderly.

BACKGROUND: Immune responses are generally impaired in aged mammals. T cells have been extensively studied in this context due to the initial discovery of their reduced proliferative capacity with aging. The decreased responses involve altered signaling events associated with the early steps of T cell activation. The underlying causes of these changes are not fully understood but point to alterations in assembly of the machinery for T cell activation. Here, we have tested the hypothesis that the T cell pool in elderly subjects displayed reduced functional capacities due to altered negative feedback mechanisms that participate in the regulation of the early steps of T cell activation. Such conditions tip the immune balance in favor of altered T cell activation and a related decreased response in aging. RESULTS: We present evidence that the tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1, a key regulator of T cell signal transduction machinery is, at least in part, responsible for the impaired T cell activation in aging. We used tyrosine-specific mAbs and Western blot analysis to show that a deregulation of the Csk/PAG loop in activated T cells from elderly individuals favored the inactive form of tyrosine-phosphorylated Lck (Y505). Confocal microscopy analysis revealed that the dynamic movements of these regulatory proteins in lipid raft microdomains was altered in T cells of aged individuals. Enzymic assays showed that SHP-1 activity was upregulated in T cells of aged donors, in contrast to young subjects. Pharmacological inhibition of SHP-1 resulted in recovery of TCR/CD28-dependent lymphocyte proliferation and IL-2 production of aged individuals to levels approaching those of young donors. Significant differences in the active (Y394) and inactive (Y505) phosphorylation sites of Lck in response to T cell activation were observed in elderly donors as compared to young subjects, independently of CD45 isoform expression. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the role of SHP-1 in T cell activation extends to its increased effect in negative feedback in aging. Modulation of SHP-1 activity could be a target to restore altered T cell functions in aging. These observations could have far reaching consequences for improvement of immunosenescence and its clinical consequences such as infections, altered response to vaccination.

Elusive Alzheimer's disease: can immune signatures help our understanding of this challenging disease? Part 1: clinical and historical background.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. Its most important pathological hallmarks are profound neuronal loss, presence of intracellular neurofibrillary tangles, and extracellular deposition of beta-amyloid protein (Aß) as beta-amyloid plaques. These latter aggregations result in neuronal degeneration in brain regions important not only for memory, but also for other cognitive functions. One of the most important risk factors for AD is age and with the increase of life-expectancy AD has thus become the most common form of dementia. It is now formally recognized by several new diagnostic criteria that AD is not a homogeneous disease. The current "Holy Grail" is to be able to diagnose variants of AD before they manifest clinically and before irreparable brain damage is done. To achieve this goal, robust and reliable biomarkers that reflect the pathogenesis of AD have to be implemented. This is of paramount importance because such biomarkers may provide clues to pathways that can be targeted for interventions aimed at disease prevention or improvement. Although much attention has focused on Aß as a major component of AD, Aß may be a less attractive target since an increasing amount of data has raised concerns about its causative role in AD. This review will be in two parts, this first part will deal with the current clinical knowledge and the questions raised by the Aß cascade hypothesis in the pathogenesis of AD and the second part will aim to synthesize our current knowledge and to discuss new data that suggest how immune alterations may contribute to the development of AD and may therefore provide beneficial targets in novel approaches for the treatment of AD.

Elusive Alzheimer's disease: can immune signatures help our understanding of this challenging disease? Part 2: new immune paradigm.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. Its most important pathological hallmarks are profound neuronal loss, presence of intracellular neurofibrillary tangles, and extracellular deposition of beta-amyloid protein (Aß) as beta-amyloid plaques. One of the most important risk factors for AD is age and with the increase of life-expectancy AD has become the most common form of dementia. The current "Holy Grail" is to be able to diagnose variants of AD before they manifest clinically and before irreparable brain damage is done. To be able to do so, we need robust and reliable biomarkers which reflect the pathogenesis of AD. This is essential because such biomarkers might indicate pathways that could be targeted for interventions aiming at disease prevention or amelioration. Although much attention has been focused on Aß in this respect, it may not be as attractive a target as thought if current doubts concerning its causative role are substantiated. This review will be in two parts, the first part dealt with the current clinical knowledge and the questions raised by the Aß cascade hypothesis in the pathogenesis of AD and this second part aims to synthesize our current knowledge and new data suggesting how immunity may contribute to the development of AD and may itself be targeted in future treatments.