Functional alteration of granulocytes, NK cells, and natural killer T cells in centenarians.

The immune system in centenarians was characterized as elevated levels in the proportion and number of granulocytes, NK cells, and extrathymic T cells (including NKT cells) in the peripheral blood. Conventional T cells, abundant in youth, were decreased in proportion and number. In addition to this numerical change in centenarians, the function was significantly altered in comparison with that in middle-aged subjects. The phagocytic function and cytokine production of granulocytes in centenarians increased whereas the production of superoxides from granulocytes decreased. This tendency was almost the same in both healthy and unhealthy centenarians. IFN gamma production by NK and extrathymic T cells in centenarians seemed to be augmented and resulted in an elevated level of serum IFN gamma. Possibly due to the effect of this endogenous IFN gamma, the proportion of CD64(+) (Fc gamma RI) cells among granulocytes was elevated. The expansion of CD64 antigens on granulocytes is known to be regulated by IFN gamma and to be associated with their induction of phagocytosis. These results suggest that the immune system of centenarians is not merely impaired, but altered in terms of the number and functions of granulocytes, NK cells, NKT cells.