[Lymphocyte stimulation in various age groups].

The study of lymphocyte functions is of great significance for evaluation of the immune response. One of the most valuable assays being the mitogenic response of lymphocytes to different antigens or mitogens, the question of the extent to which lymphocyte response decreased with advancing age has been studied. Peripheral blood lymphocytes from healthy individuals aged 21 to 97 years were assayed for the blastogenic response to different mitogens. A significant age-dependent reduction of lymphocyte stimulation could be observed with two of the three mitogens tested. Since these mitogens in the concentrations used are mainly T lymphocyte stimulators, it can be concluded that an age-dependent reduction in T lymphocyte functions is present. These findings are not only of diagnostic significance but also have therapeutic implications for all geriatric diseases in which immunity may play a role. Furthermore, the experiments described show that the lymphocyte transformation assay with different mitogens is a simple reproducible assay which has its place in every routine evaluation of the immune response system.