Influence of Age on Oxidative Bursts (Chemiluminescence) of Polymorphonuclear Neutrophil Leukocytes

Abstract

The release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during neutrophil oxidative bursts is the last of a sequence of different steps leading to the neutralization of pathogen microorganisms. Using luminol-amplified chemiluminescence (LACL), the oxidative burst activity of neutrophils in elderly people (≥75 years) was compared with that in younger controls (39 years on average) after activation with both particulate (Candida albicans) and soluble (formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine; fMLP) stimulants. After Candida stimulation, a reduction in LACL was observed in the elderly subjects in comparison with the controls, but the difference did not reach statistical significance. After fMLP stimulation, the reduction in LACL was significant, thus suggesting that the Candida pathway of chemiluminescence production seems to be less affected than the fMLP pathway. This finding raises questions concerning the complex differences in the pathways of cell killing and ROS generation, and their efficacy in the elderly. Various possible explanations are discussed, all of which need further investigation.

Improvement in Th1/Th2 immune homeostasis, antioxidative status and resistance to pathogenic E. coli on consumption of probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus fermented milk in aging mice

“…The robust increase in Th1 cytokine response on account of probiotic supplementation was further assessed in conjunction with analysis of other immunological parameters. Many studies have reported various age-associated discrepancies in neutrophil functions including impaired respiratory burst and phagocytosis (Braga et al 1998;Tortorella et al 2000;Lord et al 2001). IFN-γ has been shown to enhance various neutrophil functions (Ellis and Beaman 2004).…”

Demographic, clinical and treatment related predictors for event-free probability following low-dose radiotherapy for painful heel spurs – a retrospective multicenter study of 502 patients

“…It can be speculated that a changed nociception and pain behaviour during older age is responsible for these findings [9]. Biological studies showed that oxidative burst formation is impaired in the aged [4]. Eventually, the significantly better results in patients older than 58 years remain unclear.…”

Ageing and the neutrophil: no appetite for killing?

“…Several authors have reported normal superoxide production by neutrophils in response to FMLP, 19,31 whilst others have shown reduced responses 35,36 . Activation of PLD by FMLP receptor ligation leads to production of phosphatidic acid, which is able to activate NADPH oxidase.…”

“…26 Several authors have reported normal superoxide production by neutrophils in response to FMLP, 19,31 whilst others have shown reduced responses. 35,36 Activation of PLD by FMLP receptor ligation leads to production of phosphatidic acid, which is able to activate NADPH oxidase. 37 As FMLPinduced activation of PLD is not affected by age, 29,30 this supports those studies reporting a normal neutrophil superoxide response in the elderly.…”