Adhesion molecules on peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations in the elderly

Adhesion molecules, such as CD49d, CD50 and CD62L, have important roles in many adhesive interactions involving cells of the immune system. Since it has been shown that many immunological alterations are present in aged subjects, we studied, by means of triple colour whole blood immunostaining and multiparametric flow cytometry, the expression and intensity level (MFI) of these molecules on peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations from 23 healthy elderly subjects and 13 young controls. In the elderly a decrease in total peripheral blood lymphocytes bearing CD62L antigen was observed (39 ± 13% vs 63 ± 6% and 745 ± 312/mm 3 vs 1393 ± 407/mm 3; p