Aging-dependent decline of XXXX producing B cells coincides with production of antinuclear antibodies but not rheumatoid factors.

@entity1 @entity310 @entity21019 @entity688 @entity792
UNASSIGNED: Aging is associated with development of @entity792 . Loss of B cell tolerance in the elderly is suggested by an increased prevalence of anti-nuclear antibodies (ANAs) and rheumatoid factors (RFs). Accumulating evidence indicates that B cells also impact @entity792 via secretion of cytokines. So far, few studies have directly assessed the effect of aging on the latter B cell function. Here, we determined if and how @entity1 aging influences the production of cytokines by B cells. In a cross-sectional study, we found that absolute numbers of circulating B cells were similar in 31 young (ages 19-39) and 73 old (age>= 60) individuals. Numbers of transitional B cells (CD19(+)CD27(-)CD38(High)CD24(High)) were decreased in old individuals, whereas numbers of naive and memory B cell subsets were comparable in young and old individuals. Short-term in vitro stimulation of whole blood samples revealed that numbers of B cells capable of producing @entity310 were similar in young and old individuals. In contrast, B cells capable of @entity688 production were decreased in old subjects. This decline of @entity21019 cells was observed in old individuals that were ANA positive, and in those that were negative for both ANAs and RFs. However, @entity21019 cells were remarkably well retained in the circulation of old subjects that were RF positive. Thus, pro-inflammatory @entity310 (+) B cells are retained in the elderly, whereas @entity21019 cells generally decline. In addition, our findings indicate that @entity21019 cells may differentially impact the development of ANAs and RFs in the elderly.
