EXPRESSION OF ORNITHINE DECARBOXYLASE GENE IN ELDERLY HUMAN MONOCYTES

The proliferative capacity of the immune system is impaired in elderly subjects and the expression of various genes involved in cell cycle p rogression is reduced in PHA stimulated lymphocytes during the aging p rocess. Macrophages play a fundamental role in the immune system respo nse. It has recently been demonstrated that the process of macrophage activation is accompanied by a rapid, transient rise of ornithine deca rboxylase (ODC) mRNA levels. In fact, the ODC gene seems to be involve d in macrophage activation and differentiation. The authors demonstrat ed that the steady-state levels of ODC mRNA and the correlated superox ide anion production art lower in the monocytes of elderly subjects wi th respect to those in young subjects used as control. These results c onfirmed the impaired immune function of the elderly.