T-CELL RECEPTOR V-SEGMENT FREQUENCIES IN PERIPHERAL CD8(-CELLS IN AGING() T)

Infections are a major cause of illness and death amongst elderly peop le. Peripheral blood CD8(+) T lymphocytes -which play a crucial role i n host defence against viral infections-, are divided in subsets based upon the expression of several cell and activation markers. In senesc ence changes and variations in peripheral CD8(+) T lymphocyte compartm ent have been described, and such a decrease in the CD8(+)CD45RA(+) ly mphocytes. In this report the T V alpha and V beta cell specificities repertoire usage in aging subjects were studied by the use of seven di fferent monoclonal antibodies specific for defined regions of the TCR. Except for the V beta 6(subfamily), no differences between old and co ntrol subjects in frequency of T cells bearing selected V alpha beta e pitopes, were observed.