Pre-Existing Hypertension Is Related with Disproportions in T-Lymphocytes in Older Age

Abstract

Age-related immune deficiencies increase the risk of comorbidities and mortality. This study evaluated immunosenescence patterns by flow cytometry of naïve and memory T cell subpopulations and the immune risk profile (IRP), expressed as the CD4/CD8 ratio and IgG CMV related to comorbidities. The disproportions in naïve and memory T cells, as well as in the CD4/CD8 ratio, were analysed in 99 elderly individuals (71.9 ± 5.8 years) diagnosed with hypertension (n = 51) or without hypertension (n = 48), using an eight-parameter flow cytometer. The percentage of CD4+ T lymphocytes was significantly higher in hypertensive than other individuals independently from CMV infections, with approximately 34% having CD4/CD8 > 2.5, and only 4% of the elderly with hypertension having CD4/CD8 < 1. The elderly with a normal BMI demonstrated the CD4/CD8 ratio ≥ 1 or ≤ 2.5, while overweight and obese participants showed a tendency to an inverted CD4/CD8 ratio. CD4/CD8 ratio increased gradually with age and reached the highest values in participants aged >75 years. The decline in CD4+ naïve T lymphocytes was more prominent in IgG CMV+ men when compared to IgG CMV+ women. The changes in naïve and memory T lymphocyte population, CD4/CD8, and CMV seropositivity included in IRP are important markers of health status in the elderly that are dependent on hypertension.

Prognostic Values of Combined Ratios of White Blood Cells in Glioblastoma: A Retrospective Study

“…We observed that patients aged ≥ 63 years (cut-off value) with NRL ≥ 4.56 × 10 3 /µL ran a significantly higher risk of shorter overall survival time. One of the features of immunoageing is a chronic and systemic low-grade inflammation [ 29 ]. The inflammation that often accompanies the elderly is also associated with the development of all stages of tumours, both transformation and metastasis [ 30 ].…”

Immunosenescence in Aging-Related Vascular Dysfunction

“…It is generally complicated by the simultaneous course of oxidative stress and inflammation in the senescence of vascular endothelial cells [ 3 ]. The risk factors of enhanced aging, such as low physical activity level and high visceral fat content, can induce alterations in endothelium morphology and metabolism, which contributes to arterial stiffness, atherosclerosis, hypertension, stroke, and coronary artery disease in older adults [ 14 , 24 ]. In this regard, aging is a major risk factor and represents a major global health challenge in the pathogenesis of CVDs [ 25 ].…”

“…The number of CD4 + naïve T lymphocytes is stable for most of the lifespan, but it markedly declines at the age of 70 years. Contrastingly, CD8 + naïve T lymphocytes appear to be more susceptible to apoptosis and thus more sensitive to age-related changes [ 14 ]. The immunosenescence-related disproportion in T lymphocytes may have important consequences for endothelial dysfunction, which is a key event in vascular aging leading to the initiation, progress, and advancement of cardiovascular diseases.…”

“…Recently, we evaluated immunosenescence patterns by flow cytometry of naïve and memory T cell subpopulations, and the immune risk profile (IRP), expressed as the CD4/CD8 ratio and IgG CMV, was observed to be related to comorbidities. We demonstrated that the percentage of CD4 + T lymphocytes was significantly higher in hypertensive older adults, independently of CMV infections, with approximately 34% having CD4/CD8 > 2.5, and only 4% of the older adults with hypertension having CD4/CD8 < 1 [ 14 ]. The CD4/CD8 ratio could be an important marker of a healthy vascular system in older age [ 14 ].…”

“…We demonstrated that the percentage of CD4 + T lymphocytes was significantly higher in hypertensive older adults, independently of CMV infections, with approximately 34% having CD4/CD8 > 2.5, and only 4% of the older adults with hypertension having CD4/CD8 < 1 [ 14 ]. The CD4/CD8 ratio could be an important marker of a healthy vascular system in older age [ 14 ]. On the basis of the gathered data on the immunosenescence-related disproportion in T lymphocytes and its complications, including the changes in endothelium metabolism from subclinical dysfunction to manifested disease, the study was designed to assess the prognostic values of the immune-inflammatory profile to better predict and prevent vascular contributions to the pathogenesis of multiple diseases associated with old age.…”