ABSTRACT
Decreased mitogen responsiveness of lymphocytes during aging correlates inversely with membrane microviscosity, which reflects an altered lipid composition. Therefore, we addressed the question, whether age-related alterations of lipid metabolism affect the switch in lipid composition during formation of blasts. Membrane lipids and fatty acids of peripheral blood lymphocytes from SENIEUR protocol compatible ("healthy") elderly donors (66-77 yr) and young controls (18-30 yr) were quantified after incubation with or without the mitogen phytohaemagglutinin. The blastic change in membrane lipid composition was different for young controls with respect to cholesterol, phosphatidylethanolamine, total phospholipids, as well as several fatty acids. Moreover, the age-related alterations in the switch of membrane lipids and fatty acids were significantly correlated with a decreased mitogen response. Thus, the alterations in membrane reorganization during blast formation of lymphocytes from the elderly point to a disturbed cellular lipid homeostasis with possible impact on the age-related reduction in immune function.
Subject(s)
Aging/immunology , Lipid Metabolism , Lymphocyte Activation , Lymphocytes/metabolism , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aging/metabolism , Fatty Acids/metabolism , Humans , Lymphocytes/drug effects , Lymphocytes/physiology , Male , Membrane Lipids/metabolism , Mitogens/pharmacology , Reference Values , ViscosityABSTRACT
Sporadic reports on hepatitis-B and NANB transmissions via intravenous immunoglobulin preparations (ivIg) and a series of NANB cases after administration of intramuscular immunoglobulin (imIg) for prophylaxis of immunisation against the Rhesus (Rh) antigen D (imIg-D) in the former Eastern Germany led us to investigate retrospectively the virus safety of imIg-D regarding transfusion-relevant viral infections. In 520 Rh-negative women, who had received a total number of 987 imIg-D injections over a period of 24 years from 1968 to the beginning of 1992, the parameters HBs-Ag, HIV-1,2-Ab, HCV-Ab, HBc-Ab and CMV-Ab were measured. A comparison of the results between the test group and a control group of Rh-positive women revealed no statistically significant differences. This underlines the virus safety of the imIg-D-preparations that have been in use in our area for the last 24 years.
