TY - JOUR
T1 - Natural immunity and bone and muscle remodelling hormones in the elderly
AU - Mariani, Erminia
AU - Ravaglia, Giovanni
AU - Meneghetti, Alessandra
AU - Tarozzi, Andrea
AU - Forti, Paola
AU - Maioli, Fabiola
AU - Boschi, Federica
AU - Facchini, Andrea
PY - 1998/5/15
Y1 - 1998/5/15
N2 - Increasing evidence has demonstrated that the immune system is closely integrated with two other physiological systems: endocrine and nervous. They communicate through circulating humoral factors such as cytokines, hormones and neurotransmitters. We undertook a cross-sectional analysis in a group of elderly subjects over 90 years to demonstrate that a functional relationship exists among the number and cytolytic activities of NK cells, bone and muscle remodelling hormones, anthropometric parameters and physical ability. Peripheral blood samples collected from 62, 90-106 years-old subjects underwent biochemical (bone and muscle remodelling hormone levels) and immunological determinations (Natural Killer cell distribution and activity), anthropometric and functional assessment. Significant associations were found among NK cell number and cytolytic activity and serum concentrations of vitamin D, anthropometric parameters, while functional independence in daily activity was only associated with NK cell number. In general a high level of physical ability was correlated with preserved body stores and vitamin D levels. In conclusion, our results stress the importance of nutritional evaluation in the clinical assessment of elderly people. The magnitude of the NK immune response, which constitutes the first line of defence against infected and neoplastic cells, is best preserved in oldest-old people with the best hormonal parameters and nutritional measures.
AB - Increasing evidence has demonstrated that the immune system is closely integrated with two other physiological systems: endocrine and nervous. They communicate through circulating humoral factors such as cytokines, hormones and neurotransmitters. We undertook a cross-sectional analysis in a group of elderly subjects over 90 years to demonstrate that a functional relationship exists among the number and cytolytic activities of NK cells, bone and muscle remodelling hormones, anthropometric parameters and physical ability. Peripheral blood samples collected from 62, 90-106 years-old subjects underwent biochemical (bone and muscle remodelling hormone levels) and immunological determinations (Natural Killer cell distribution and activity), anthropometric and functional assessment. Significant associations were found among NK cell number and cytolytic activity and serum concentrations of vitamin D, anthropometric parameters, while functional independence in daily activity was only associated with NK cell number. In general a high level of physical ability was correlated with preserved body stores and vitamin D levels. In conclusion, our results stress the importance of nutritional evaluation in the clinical assessment of elderly people. The magnitude of the NK immune response, which constitutes the first line of defence against infected and neoplastic cells, is best preserved in oldest-old people with the best hormonal parameters and nutritional measures.
KW - Ageing
KW - Anthropometric parameters
KW - Bone and muscle remodelling hormones
KW - NK cells
KW - Nutrition
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U2 - 10.1016/S0047-6374(97)00173-5
DO - 10.1016/S0047-6374(97)00173-5
M3 - Article
C2 - 9720658
AN - SCOPUS:0032525043
VL - 102
SP - 279
EP - 292
JO - Mechanisms of Ageing and Development
JF - Mechanisms of Ageing and Development
SN - 0047-6374
IS - 2-3
ER -