Impact of the genetic background on immune system

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare some immune parameters between healthy centenarian offspring (CO), healthy age‐matched old (O) and young (Y) controls to evaluate whether any difference exists in the naïve/memory compartments that might explain the familiar increased lifespan expectancy of centenarian offspring (CO). In fact it is now supposed that longevity is based on genetic background and it has been demonstrated that centenarian siblings have an increased probability to reach long life as well.MethodsPeripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were collected from CO, O and Y donors. Lymphocyte subsets were evaluated by cytofluorimetric analysis. We have studied the naïve/memory compartment in T and B cells evaluating the expression of CD45R0, CD27, CD28 (on CD4 and CD8 T cells) and IgD and CD27 (on CD19 B cells).ResultsOur results show that O show the most differentiated phenotype, Y display the less differentiated phenotype and CO show an intermediate profile between the other two control groups.ConclusionThese data support the hypothesis of a “familiar youth” of the immune system that can be a big advantage both to fight the main age‐related diseases, and to properly respond to vaccinations. So, T and B cell subset changes could represent an hallmark of successful or unsuccessful ageing and could be used as a biomarker of human life span.This work was supported by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research grant (Does parental longevity impact on the health ageing of their offspring? An immunological and genetic study) to C. Caruso.