Aging oppositely affects TNF-alpha and IL-10 production by macrophages from different rat strains

Abstract

Altered functions of macrophages with aging contribute to impairment of both innate and adaptive immunity in the elderly. The present study aimed to examine strain specificity of age-related changes in the phenotypic and functional characteristics of macrophages from DA and AO rats, which differ in average life span. Resident peritoneal macrophages from young (10-12 weeks old) and aged (98-104 weeks old) rats were tested for: (a) the surface expression of TLR4 and CD14; (b) the basal and LPS-induced production of TNF-alpha and IL-10; and