The effect of propranolol on protein synthesis and phagocytosis by polymorphonuclear leukocytes from newborn, children and elderly individuals.

The effect of propranolol on protein synthesis by polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocytes was assessed in subjects from four age categories: elderly individuals, grown-up children, small children and newborn babies. This function was inhibited in PMN cells from individuals of all age groups, but inversely proportional to the age of the individual, i.e. the younger the subject, the more inhibited was the protein synthesis by his PMN leukocytes. The phagocytic capacity of the PMN cells of elderly subjects was decreased in comparison with that of individuals from the younger age groups. Propranolol inhibited this cell function in cells from subjects of all categories, although the inhibition was more pronounced in the cells of the younger groups. The difference in the degree of inhibition of the cell function observed in the various age groups may indicate different functional properties of the cell membrane.