With increasing age, the ability to produce protective antibodies in response to immunization declines, leading to a reduced efficacy of vaccination in the elderly. To examine the effect of age on the cognate function of CD4 T cells, we have used a novel adoptive transfer model that allows us to compare identical numbers of antigen-specific naive T cells from young and aged TCR transgenic (Tg) donors. Upon transfer of aged donor CD4 T cells to young hosts, there was significantly reduced expansion and germinal center (GC) differentiation of the antigen-specific B cell population after immunization. This reduced cognate helper function was seen at all time points and over a wide range of donor cell numbers. In hosts receiving aged CD4 cells, there were also dramatically lower levels of antigen-specific IgG. These age-related defects were not due to defects in migration of the aged CD4 T cells, but may be attributable to reduced CD154 (CD40L) expression. Furthermore, we found that there was no difference in B cell expansion and differentiation or in IgG production when young CD4 T cells were transferred to young or aged hosts. Our results show that, in this model, age-related reductions in the cognate helper function of CD4 T cells contribute significantly to defects in humoral responses observed in aged individuals.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
20 December 2004
Article|
December 20 2004
Age-related Defects in CD4 T Cell Cognate Helper Function Lead to Reductions in Humoral Responses
Sheri M. Eaton,
Sheri M. Eaton
Trudeau Institute, Saranac Lake, NY 12983
Search for other works by this author on:
Eve M. Burns,
Eve M. Burns
Trudeau Institute, Saranac Lake, NY 12983
Search for other works by this author on:
Kimberly Kusser,
Kimberly Kusser
Trudeau Institute, Saranac Lake, NY 12983
Search for other works by this author on:
Troy D. Randall,
Troy D. Randall
Trudeau Institute, Saranac Lake, NY 12983
Search for other works by this author on:
Laura Haynes
Laura Haynes
Trudeau Institute, Saranac Lake, NY 12983
Search for other works by this author on:
Sheri M. Eaton
Trudeau Institute, Saranac Lake, NY 12983
Eve M. Burns
Trudeau Institute, Saranac Lake, NY 12983
Kimberly Kusser
Trudeau Institute, Saranac Lake, NY 12983
Troy D. Randall
Trudeau Institute, Saranac Lake, NY 12983
Laura Haynes
Trudeau Institute, Saranac Lake, NY 12983
Address correspondence to Laura Haynes, Ph.D., Trudeau Institute, 154 Algonquin Ave., Saranac Lake, NY 12983. Phone: (518) 891-3080 (x374); Fax: (518) 891-5126; email: [email protected]
Abbreviations used in this paper: CFSE, carboxy fluorescein succinimidyl ester; FDC, follicular dendritic cell; GC, germinal center; NP, 4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl acetyl; NP-APC, NP conjugated to allophycocyanin; PCC, pigeon cytochrome c; PNA, peanut agglutinin; Tg, transgenic.
Received:
July 12 2004
Accepted:
November 09 2004
Online ISSN: 1540-9538
Print ISSN: 0022-1007
The Rockefeller University Press
2004
J Exp Med (2004) 200 (12): 1613–1622.
Article history
Received:
July 12 2004
Accepted:
November 09 2004
Citation
Sheri M. Eaton, Eve M. Burns, Kimberly Kusser, Troy D. Randall, Laura Haynes; Age-related Defects in CD4 T Cell Cognate Helper Function Lead to Reductions in Humoral Responses . J Exp Med 20 December 2004; 200 (12): 1613–1622. doi: https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.20041395
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Client Account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.
Sign in via your Institution
Sign in via your InstitutionSuggested Content
Email alerts
Advertisement