Abstract
Ten healthy elderly volunteers (mean age: 78.9) underwent a battery of neutrophil function tests. Resting adherence to endothelium, random and directed migration, phagocytosis-induced chemiluminescence, and granule secretory behavior were all indistinguishable from young healthy controls. However, in vivo delivery of neutrophils into skin abrasions was significantly reduced: 8.4 X 10(5), versus 2.7 X 10(6) in the young. In addition, their neutrophils showed a smaller increase in the surface adhesion glycoprotein CD11 and in adherence to endothelium in response to stimulation with FMLP than did cells from young controls. Inversely, baseline CD11 expression was higher in elderly subjects, suggesting that their cells may have an in vivo defect in mediator responsiveness. Serum immunoglobulin and complement concentrations were also compared. The mean IgM level of 106.3 mg/dl in the elderly was significantly below the 154.4 mg/dl in the young. In contrast, concentrations of C3, C4, and total hemolytic complement were significantly higher in the elderly.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
