Age-dependent change in reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide generation by rat alveolar macrophages.

Immunosenescence is an age-associated dysregulation of the immune function, which contributes to increased susceptibility to disease in the elderly. Alveolar macrophages (AM) are known phagocytes that generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO), essential mediators for host defence. We studied phagocytosis, ROS and NO production in AM obtained from young, adult and senescent rats (1-2, 9-12 and 18-24 months old, respectively) after exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 0.

Radiation effects on oxidative metabolism in young and aged rat alveolar macrophages.

The effect of ionizing radiation on metabolic functions of alveolar macrophages (AM) have been well studied. However, variations associated to age have not been established yet. The aim of this work was to perform a comparative study on irradiated alveolar macrophages from young and aged rat lungs.