Abstract

The RNA-content of G 1 cells in lectin-stimulated spleen cell cultures of young and aged NMRI mice was determined by flow cytometry. In spleen cells of aged mice a preferential decrease of GI cells with a high RNA-content, so-called G lb cells, was found. Since, as shown in a previous report, only cells with a high RNA-content are able to proliferate and the passage of low (G 1a) to high (G 1b) RNA-content is interleukin-2(IL-2)-dependent, the ability of young and old spleen cells to produce IL-2 was tested. In old spleen cells a diminished production of IL-2 was found. Addition of external IL-2, however, did not increase the proliferative capacity of old spleen cells, nor did it induce more G 1b cells. Thus spleens of aged mice contain cells, which can be activated by lectin, but then fail to respond to IL-2. Both decrease in IL-2 production and receptivity for IL-2 may contribute to the diminishing immune response in aging individuals.

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