Human NK cells display major phenotypic and functional changes over the life span.

摘要: Aging is generally associated with an increased predisposition to infectious diseases and cancers, related in part the development of immune senescence, a process that affects all cell compartments system. Although many studies have investigated effects age on natural killer (NK) cells, their conclusions remain controversial because diverse health status study subjects resulted discordant findings. To clarify this situation, we conducted first extensive phenotypic functional analysis NK cells from healthy subjects, comparing derived newborn (cord blood), middle-aged (18-60 years), old (60-80 very (80-100 years) subjects. We found cord blood displayed specific features immaturity, including poor expression KIR LIR-1/ILT-2 high both NKG2A IFN-gamma. older other hand, preserved major characteristics, but mature accentuated. These include profound decline CD56(bright) subset, increase LIR-1/ILT-2, perfect recovering NK-cell function following IL2-activation conclude preservation until advanced may contribute longevity successful aging.