EFFECT OF AGING ON THE IMMUNE RESPONSE

老年人对感染的易感性增加的基础将 研究的角度是， 免疫系统中细胞共同发挥作用的能力老化， 相互作用以产生有效的免疫应答。 计划采用一种综合方法， 淋巴因子的产生和/或反应性将受到特定的 注意，因为它们代表了淋巴细胞 communicate. 其中一个项目涉及衰老对增殖性 和再生能力的记忆B细胞作为有关的产生 小鼠淋巴组织中的生殖中心。 第二个项目分析 Langerhans的表面性质、数量和功能活性 老年小鼠和人类皮肤中的细胞，以及这些细胞 在暴露于诸如紫外线照射的试剂后恢复正常， 皮质类固醇 第三个项目侧重于职能活动， 包括淋巴因子在内的小鼠各种T细胞亚群之间的相互关系 生产、细胞毒性和抑制活性。 第四个项目 建议研究老年小鼠胸腺再生的能力， 对损伤的反应，接受移民前胸腺细胞，并支持他们的 分化 在第五个项目中，将在人类和 小鼠，IL-1的产生和能力之间的关系， 老年人对感染的反应是发烧， 皮质类固醇的生产在这个过程中应对压力。

The basis for the increased susceptibility of the aged to infections will be studied from the standpoint that a progressive decrease occurs during aging in the ability of cells in the immune system to function together and to interact for the purpose of an effective immune response to challenge. An integrated approach is planned in which receptors of lymphoid cells and lymphokine production and/or responsiveness will receive particular attention, as they represent the major means by which lymphoid cells communicate. One project concerns the effect of aging on the proliferative and regenerative capacity of memory B cells as related to the generation of germinal centers in lymphoid tissue of mice. The second project analyzes the surface properties, numbers and functional activities of Langerhans cells in the skin of aged mice and humans and the ability of these cells to return to normal after exposure to agents such as UV-irradiation and corticosteroids. The third project focuses on the functional activity and interrelation between various T cell subsets in mice, including lymphokine production, cytotoxic and suppressor activities. The fourth project proposes to study the ability of the thymus in aged mice to regenerate in response to injury, to receive immigrant prothymocytes and to support their differentiation. In the fifth project a study will be made, in humans and mice, of the relationship between the production of IL-1 and the ability of the aged to respond with fever to infections, as well as of the influence of corticosteroid production in response to stress on this process.