MOLECULAR BASIS FOR DECEASED IMMUNE FUNCTION IN AGING HUMANS AND RATS

从动物和人类研究中都很好地证实，有一种 随着年龄增长而出现的免疫功能的普遍下降。这个项目 重点从分子水平上考察了这种下降的原因(S)。 特别重要的是白介素2的产量下降 (IL-2)，某些T细胞增殖所必需的淋巴因子 细胞群。这些研究的一个主要目标是确定 IL-2蛋白的下降是否伴随着表达的下降 IL-2mRNA的表达。如果是这样的话(初步证据表明这是 案例)，然后我们将尝试确定是什么因素导致 IL-2mRNA合成减少及能否逆转。 此外，这些研究将包括检查 另外两个与衰老有关的基因，它们的调节都是密切相关的 与IL-2有关。它们是IL-2受体和伽马干扰素，另一个 IL-2诱导表达的淋巴因子。

It is well established from both animal and human studies that there is a general decrease in immune function that occurs with aging. This project focuses on examining the cause(s) for this decline at the molecular level. Of particular significance is the decline in production of Interleukin 2 (IL-2), a lymphokine absolutely required for the proliferation of certain T cell populations. A primary objective of these studies is to determine whether the decline in IL-2 protein is accompanied by decreased expression of IL-2 mRNA. If so (and preliminary evidence indicates that this is the case), then we will attempt to determine what factors are responsible for the decreased IL-2 mRNA synthesis and whether or not they can be reversed. In addition, these studies will include examination of the expression of two additional genes with aging, both of whose regulation is intimately linked to IL-2. These are the IL-2 receptor and gamma interferon, another lymphokine whose expression is induced by IL-2.