AGE-RELATED-CHANGES IN INTERLEUKIN PRODUCTION IN BALB CNNIA AND SJL/JMICE AND THEIR MODIFICATION AFTER ADMINISTRATION OF FOREIGN MACROMOLECULES/

In vitro production of Interleukin-2, -3, -4 and -10 by activated lymp hocytes of BALB/cNNia and SJL/J was studied. While IL-2 production in BALB/c mice remains constant throughout the life span of the animals ( 8-113 weeks), an increase in production from stimulated SJL cells was seen. Age-related increases in IL-3 and IL-4 production occur between young and middle age (8-60 weeks) in both strains. Some organ differen ces in quantity of lymphokine produced were seen; the direction of age -related changes was the same for lymphocytes of spleen and MLN. The e xceptional feature of BALB/cNNia was the relative stabilization of the levels of interleukin production, as animals approach old age. BALB/c NNia and SJL, which are at the two opposite extremes of lifespan, diff er also in their response to molecular interventions: in BALB/cNNia fe tal sheep liver extract and hemocyanin increase the output of interleu kins. This is in striking contrast to the effects observed in older SJ L mice in which the extract reduced the output of IL-3 and IL-4 by old animals, whereas hemocyanin increased the output of IL-2 and IL-3 at all ages tested.