Flow Cytometric Evaluation Of Age-Related Changes Of CD4+T And CD8+T Lymphocytes In Rats

Abstract

Aging is a process that progresses with the reduction and remodeling of various bodily functions. Wistar albino rats of different ages bred in Istanbul University Aziz Sancar Experimental Medicine Research Institute were used. Wistar albino rats divided into two groups consist of Group I; young adults aged 2.5-18 months and adults (n=16) and Group II; 19-30 months old rats (n=13). After blood collection for the determination of lymphocyte subgroups, cells were stained with CD8?FITC and CD4? FITC labeled monoclonal antibodies. Flow cytometry analysis was adhered to after the preparatory phase. In the statistical analysis, the evaluation of the cells in the young and old groups was made with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Independent sample testing was used between groups. As a result of the analysis, p<0.05 was accepted as significant. While the CD4/CD8 ratio of young rats was 1.6±0.5, this ratio was found to be 3.1±1 in old rats. An inverse correlation (r=-0.898) was observed between CD4? and CD8? cells in the young group (p>0.0001). A direct correlation (r=0.620) was shown between CD4? T cells and CD4/CD8 in the elderly group (p<0.024). There was an inverse correlation (r=-0.876) between CD8? T cells and CD4/CD8 (p<0.0001). Immune aging is the age-related decline of immune system functions, significant changes occur in both B and T cells. In this study, age-related changes in immune system cells were tried to be demonstrated experimentally.