Enumeration of human peripheral blood dendritic cells throughout the life

Int Immunol. 2012 Jun;24(6):347-56. doi: 10.1093/intimm/dxs006. Epub 2012 Feb 17.

Abstract

Human aging is associated with immunosenescence, a process characterized by alterations in numerical and functional features of immune system components. Dendritic cells (DCs) are the main antigen-presenting cells, playing a pivotal role in adaptive and innate immunity. Therefore, we investigated the distribution of human circulating DCs throughout the life, in order to contribute to the knowledge of the physiological background underlying the aging of immune system. Cytofluorimetric analysis of peripheral blood samples by all-aged healthy population showed a significant decrease of circulating DCs and of their two main subsets among age. This reduction was limited to the plasmacytoid cell subtype when young and old subjects were analyzed separately. The analysis of circulating Treg cell number in a cohort of the subjects showed a significant reduction with increasing age and a positive significant correlation to myeloid or plasmacytoid absolute numbers. In conclusion, this work provides a large set of data of normal reference values of peripheral blood dendritic cells in healthy population suitable for comparative clinical studies concerning pathological immune dysfunctions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aging / immunology*
  • Antigens, CD / immunology
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism
  • Blood Cell Count / methods*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Dendritic Cells / cytology*
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Leukocyte Common Antigens / immunology
  • Leukocyte Common Antigens / metabolism
  • Leukocyte Immunoglobulin-like Receptor B1
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / cytology
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / immunology
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / metabolism
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Receptors, Immunologic / immunology
  • Receptors, Immunologic / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / metabolism
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • LILRB1 protein, human
  • Leukocyte Immunoglobulin-like Receptor B1
  • Receptors, Immunologic
  • Leukocyte Common Antigens