Assessing Age-Related Changes in Peripheral Blood Leukocyte Phenotypes in Domestic Shorthaired Cats Using Flow Cytometry

Recent studies indicate that as an animal ages, every component of the immune system undergoes age-associated changes, suggesting that immune senescence is a net result of the continuous adaptation of the body to the overall deterioration occurring over time (1,2), which is considered to be one of the main contributing factors that influence morbidity and mortality (3). Most age-related changes in the immune response have focused on human and rodent studies, indicating there is a general reduction in protective immunity, including reduced cell numbers, proliferative capacity and cellular dysfunction with increasing age (3–5). Such age-related alterations in immune function have been linked with increased incidences of infection and degenerative disorders such as cancer (5).