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ImmunologicalStatus of aged subjects with reference to serological evidence of autoimmunity

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Ricerca in clinica e in laboratorio

Summary

When a group of 104 aged subjects was screened for autoimmune reactions, positive reactions for the rheumatoid factor and/or autoantibodies (ANA, anti-thyroid, PCA, anti-smooth muscle, anti-mitochondria) were recorded in 40.4%. Immunological functions were studied in 32 positive aged subjects, 32 age- and sex-matched negative controls, and 32 young subjects. Some differences attributable to the process of aging were quite evident, such as a depression in the percentage of E rosette forming peripheral lymphocytes and in their response to PHA, and an increase in the percentage of IgG-bearing peripheral lymphocytes and in the serum levels of IgA and three complement fractions (C’3, C’4 and C’3-PA). No clear-cut picture was noted when autoimmunity-positive and -negative, aged subjects were compared. However, some differences between sexes suggest that autoimmune reactions are linked to a depressed T cell function mainly in males, whereas the reverse is true for females.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto di Clinica Medica IV, dell’Università degli Studi di Milano Ospedale Policlinico, Padiglione Litta, Via Francesco Sforza 35, 20122, Milano, Italia

    Carlo Zanussi, Claudio Rugarli, Paolo Casali, Giovanna Fabio, Bice Perussia, Maria Grazia Sabbadini Villa, Raffaella Scorza Smeraldi & Giorgio Duca

  2. Istituto di Statistica Medica e Biometria, dell’Università degli Studi di Milano, Italia

    Giorgio Duca

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  1. Carlo Zanussi
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  2. Claudio Rugarli
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  4. Giovanna Fabio
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  5. Bice Perussia
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  6. Maria Grazia Sabbadini Villa
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  7. Raffaella Scorza Smeraldi
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Zanussi, C., Rugarli, C., Casali, P. et al. ImmunologicalStatus of aged subjects with reference to serological evidence of autoimmunity. La Ricerca Clin. Lab. 7, 114–123 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02879477

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