SUPPRESSOR CELL-FUNCTION IN MAN - EVIDENCE FOR ALTERED SENSITIVITY OF RESPONDER CELLS WITH AGE

Concanavalin A (Con A)-activated suppressor cell function was evaluated in young and elderly adult human donors. Activated suppressor cells reduced the mitogenic response of autologous peripheral blood lymphocytes more markedly in elderly than in young adults (60.2 ± 4.8 vs 35.3 ± 8.9%, P < 0.05). As a measure of the actual amounts of suppressor factors released, we concurrently determined the effect of supernatants from the Con A-activated cells on the proliferative activity of a dividing cell line (L cells). The inhibitory effect of supernatants from activated cells was greater in young than in elderly adults (21.4 ± 3.4 vs 11.4 ± 3.1%, P < 0.05). These results suggest that cultured lymphocytes from elderly donors produce less suppressor factors than do cells from young donors but that the responder cells of the elderly are more susceptible to suppressor influence. © 1979.