Functional analysis of the immunosenescence of the human B cell system: dissociation of normal activation and proliferation from impaired terminal differentiation into IgM immunoglobulin-secreting cells

The abilities of B cells from 24 young (mean 26 yr) and 24 elderly (mean 86 yr) humans to proliferate and differentiate into immunoglobulin-secreting cells (ISC) were investigated. Initial studies in young subjects demonstrated that a Staph protein A (SpA)-driven system could simultaneously assess the proliferative and differentiative capabilities of B cells resulting in IgM production. B cell proliferative responses were found to be partially T cell-dependent, whereas differentiation was absolutely T cell-dependent. Also, no significant differences could be detected in the abilities of nonproliferating allogeneic and autologous T cells to support B cell responsiveness. Although B cells from elderly subjects continuously exposed to SpA displayed proliferative responses equal to young subjects, the differentiation of B cells from elderly subjects into IgM ISC was markedly reduced as compared to young subjects. Analyses of results from co-culture experiments showed that the differentiation impairments of B cells from some elderly subjects could be partially corrected by allogeneic T cells from young subjects, whereas the impairments of others were more refractory. Moreover, T cells from elderly subjects were able to promote the differentiation of B cells from young subjects. Other experiments in elderly subjects showed that significant impairments of B and T cell functions rarely coexisted and that compensatory increases in B or T cell function were not evident. Thus, B cells from certain elderly humans have intrinsic impairments of differentiation required for optimal IgM production even though activation and proliferation remain normal in the presence of SpA. These impairments in differentiation are sometimes improved by T cells from young subjects, although in some elderly individuals, the differentiative impairments fail to be reversed.