Fever in the elderly. Production of leukocytic pyrogen by monocytes from elderly persons

P. G. Jones; C. A. Kauffman; A. G. Bergman; C. M. Hayes; M. J. Kluger; J. G. Cannon

doi:10.1159/000212627

Fever in the elderly. Production of leukocytic pyrogen by monocytes from elderly persons

P. G. Jones, C. A. Kauffman, A. G. Bergman, C. M. Hayes, M. J. Kluger, J. G. Cannon

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

In an attempt to explain the diminished febrile response of the elderly, we studied the first step in fever generation, that of production of leukocytic pyrogen (LP) by monocytes. Monocytes from 25 healthy elderly volunteers (ages 65-91) and 24 healthy young volunteers (ages 17-38) were stimulated with Staphylococcus epidermidis to release LP; LP activity in the culture supernatants was assayed by measuring the pyrogenic response in rabbits and rats and the fall in plasma iron and zinc in rats. Monocytes from elderly volunteers produced slightly less LP than monocytes from young volunteers, but the difference was not statistically significant. The amount of LP produced was not correlated with age. Therefore, the diminished febrile response of the elderly is not the result of an intrinsic defect in the monocyte's ability to make LP. Other explanations relating to the central effect of LP and the effector response to LP in the elderly should be sought.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	182-187
Number of pages	6
Journal	Gerontology
Volume	30
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1159/000212627
State	Published - 1984
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Aging
Geriatrics and Gerontology

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title = "Fever in the elderly. Production of leukocytic pyrogen by monocytes from elderly persons",

abstract = "In an attempt to explain the diminished febrile response of the elderly, we studied the first step in fever generation, that of production of leukocytic pyrogen (LP) by monocytes. Monocytes from 25 healthy elderly volunteers (ages 65-91) and 24 healthy young volunteers (ages 17-38) were stimulated with Staphylococcus epidermidis to release LP; LP activity in the culture supernatants was assayed by measuring the pyrogenic response in rabbits and rats and the fall in plasma iron and zinc in rats. Monocytes from elderly volunteers produced slightly less LP than monocytes from young volunteers, but the difference was not statistically significant. The amount of LP produced was not correlated with age. Therefore, the diminished febrile response of the elderly is not the result of an intrinsic defect in the monocyte's ability to make LP. Other explanations relating to the central effect of LP and the effector response to LP in the elderly should be sought.",

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AU - Jones, P. G.

AU - Kauffman, C. A.

AU - Bergman, A. G.

AU - Hayes, C. M.

AU - Kluger, M. J.

AU - Cannon, J. G.

PY - 1984

Y1 - 1984

N2 - In an attempt to explain the diminished febrile response of the elderly, we studied the first step in fever generation, that of production of leukocytic pyrogen (LP) by monocytes. Monocytes from 25 healthy elderly volunteers (ages 65-91) and 24 healthy young volunteers (ages 17-38) were stimulated with Staphylococcus epidermidis to release LP; LP activity in the culture supernatants was assayed by measuring the pyrogenic response in rabbits and rats and the fall in plasma iron and zinc in rats. Monocytes from elderly volunteers produced slightly less LP than monocytes from young volunteers, but the difference was not statistically significant. The amount of LP produced was not correlated with age. Therefore, the diminished febrile response of the elderly is not the result of an intrinsic defect in the monocyte's ability to make LP. Other explanations relating to the central effect of LP and the effector response to LP in the elderly should be sought.

AB - In an attempt to explain the diminished febrile response of the elderly, we studied the first step in fever generation, that of production of leukocytic pyrogen (LP) by monocytes. Monocytes from 25 healthy elderly volunteers (ages 65-91) and 24 healthy young volunteers (ages 17-38) were stimulated with Staphylococcus epidermidis to release LP; LP activity in the culture supernatants was assayed by measuring the pyrogenic response in rabbits and rats and the fall in plasma iron and zinc in rats. Monocytes from elderly volunteers produced slightly less LP than monocytes from young volunteers, but the difference was not statistically significant. The amount of LP produced was not correlated with age. Therefore, the diminished febrile response of the elderly is not the result of an intrinsic defect in the monocyte's ability to make LP. Other explanations relating to the central effect of LP and the effector response to LP in the elderly should be sought.

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Fever in the elderly. Production of leukocytic pyrogen by monocytes from elderly persons

Abstract

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