Age-related changes in release of soluble interleukin-2 receptor by murine lymphocytes.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the presence of soluble interleukin-2 receptors (sIL-2R) in the supernatants of activated splenocytes correlates with age progression in C57BL/6 mice. In addition, the relationship between IL-2R cell surface expression and release of sIL-2R was examined. The results indicated splenocytes from young (3-4-month-old) mice release higher levels of sIL-2R than those from intermediate (18-19-month-old) or old (24-25-month-old) mice. While there was no statistical difference between sIL-2R levels in intermediate and old mice in this study, the old mice did have a slightly higher release of sIL-2R than the intermediate mice. There was a correlation between IL-2R cell surface expression and the level of sIL-2R in the young and the intermediate age groups. In old mice there was no correlation between these two parameters.