%0 Journal Article
%T Defective pro-IL-1¦Â responses in macrophages from aged mice
%A Ramirez Alejandro
%A Rathinam Vijay
%A Fitzgerald Katherine A
%A Golenbock Douglas T
%J Immunity & Ageing
%D 2012
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1742-4933-9-27
%X Background Cytokines regulated by the inflammasome pathway have been extensively implicated in various age-related immune pathologies. We set out to elucidate the contribution of the nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome pathway to the previously described deficiencies in IL-1¦Â production by macrophages from aged mice. We examined the production of pro-IL-1¦Â and its conversion into IL-1¦Â as two separate steps and compared these cytokine responses in bone marrow derived macrophages from young (6¨C8 weeks) and aged (18¨C24 months) C57BL/6 mice. Findings Relative to macrophages from young mice, macrophages from aged mice produced less pro-IL-1¦Â after TLR4 stimulation with LPS. However upon activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome with ATP, macrophages from young and aged mice were able to efficiently convert and secrete intracellular pro-cytokines as functional cytokines. Conclusions Lower levels of IL-1¦Â production are a result of slower and lower overall production of pro-IL-1¦Â in macrophages from aged mice.
%K Ageing
%K Macrophages
%K Aged mice
%K NLRP3
%K Inflammasome
%K IL-1¦Â
%U http://www.immunityageing.com/content/9/1/27