Gamma/delta T lymphocytes are affected in the elderly

gammadelta T lymphocytes are considered to represent a link between the inflammatory response and adaptive immunity. In the present paper we investigated whether these cells play any role in the remodeling of the immune system described in the elderly. We show that the absolute number of gammadelta T cells in peripheral blood of old and very old subjects is reduced. Moreover, gammadelta T cells from old people and centenarians show enhanced levels of the early activation marker CD69 both after culture in medium alone and in LPS-stimulated cells. Furthermore, they show a basal increased production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha as evaluated at the single cell level. Additionally, the response of these cells to IPP in 'in vitro' cultures is in part impaired. These results suggest that the high level of basal activation of gammadelta T cells is due to the 'inflamed' environment. However, the changes in number and function of gammadelta T lymphocytes might influence the resolution of inflammatory immune responses in the elderly. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.