Immunological parameters in aging: studies on natural immunomodulatory and immunoprotective substances.
Year: 1990
Type: article
Abstract: Several immune parameters--particularly T-cell dependent immune responses--are altered in aged subjects. To test the hypothesis that they may be the consequence of more general age-related lymphocyte biochemical alterations, and particularly of the energy producing system, the effect of L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine on cell proliferation was studied in peripheral blood lymphocytes from donors of different ages. The results showed that phytohaemagglutinin-induced peripheral blood lymphocyte proliferation was markedly increased in L-carnitine- or acetyl-L-carnitine-preloaded lymphocytes from young and especially from old subjects. Cells from aged subjects considerably improved their defective proliferative capability. Preliminary observations suggest that L-carnitine-preloading also protected peripheral blood lymphocytes from old donors when such cells were exposed to an oxidative stress.
Source: PubMed
Authors: C Franceschi, A Cossarizza, L Troiano, R Salati, D Monti
Institution: University of Modena and Reggio Emilia
Language: English
Topic: T-cell and B-cell Immunology
Subfield: Immunology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2398813246
