Kupffer cells and the acute phase response: the effect of aging.

Aging is associated with a significant increase in the susceptibility to scepsis and endotoxin induced shock in both man and experimental animals. In this study, some metabolic, heamodynamic and other pathophysiological factors possibly involved in the increased mortality of aged rats after endotoxin administration were investigated. The results indicate that older rats display an overall decrease in the capacity to maintain homeostasis after endotoxin challenge, which is expressed by severe disregulation of body temperature (hypothermia), glucose metabolism (hypoglycemia), tissue perfusion (fibrinolytic and anti-fibrinolytic factors) and severe tissue damage. Although a slight decrease in the clearance of endotoxin from the circulation was noted in old rats, alterations in the secondary response, evoked by stimulated macrophages and other cells appear to be more important in the age-related increase in susceptibility.