Background: The immune system undergoes alterations in functions with aging which results in progressive deterioration in the ability to respond to infection. The importance of nutrients in regulating immune responses has widened attempts on interventions that improve immune functions with aging. L-carnitine serves as a vital factor in the mitochondrial transport of fatty acids, a process essential for fatty acid oxidation and energy release. L-carnitine is categorized as a conditionally essential nutrient factor and its concentrations are reported to be decreased with aging.

Methods: The immunomodulatory role of L-carnitine was assessed in aged rats after administration of L-carnitine (300 mg/kg body weight/day) for 7, 14 and 21 days by evaluating neutrophil functions, delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses and immunoglobulin concentrations.

Results: Aged animals exhibited decreased non-specific immune functions, delayed-type hypersensitivity responses and immunoglobulin concentrations compared to younger controls. Treatment with L-carnitine improved neutrophil functions, delayed-type hypersensitivity responses and the concentrations of immunoglobulins A and G in aged animals in a significant manner. However L-carnitine treatment did not have any impact on IgM concentration and type responses.

Conclusions: This study demonstrated that aging is associated with a decline in immune functions and supplementing L-carnitine had a positive effect in improving immune responses in aged animals.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cca.2007.11.013DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

immune functions
12
functions delayed-type
12
delayed-type hypersensitivity
12
aged animals
12
role l-carnitine
8
aged rats
8
functions aging
8
immune responses
8
neutrophil functions
8
responses immunoglobulin
8

Similar Publications

Safety and immunogenicity of an mRNA-1273 vaccine booster in adolescents.

Hum Vaccin Immunother

December 2025

Research and Development, Infectious Disease, Moderna, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA.

Safety, immunogenicity, and effectiveness of an mRNA-1273 50-μg booster were evaluated in adolescents (12-17 years), with and without pre-booster SARS-CoV-2 infection. Participants who had received the 2-dose mRNA-1273 100-µg primary series in the TeenCOVE trial (NCT04649151) were offered the mRNA-1273 50-μg booster. Primary objectives included safety and inference of effectiveness by establishing noninferiority of neutralizing antibody (nAb) responses after the booster compared with the nAb post-primary series of mRNA-1273 among young adults in COVE (NCT04470427).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A novel ubiquitination-related gene signature for overall survival prediction in patients with liver hepatocellular carcinoma.

Discov Oncol

January 2025

Medical Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.

Liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) is a highly heterogeneous disease, necessitating the discovery of novel biomarkers to enhance individualized treatment approaches. Recent research has shown the significant involvement of ubiquitin-related genes (UbRGs) in the progression of LIHC. However, the prognostic value of UbRGs in LIHC has not been investigated.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Complementary Strategies to Identify Differentially Expressed Genes in the Choroid Plexus of Patients with Progressive Multiple Sclerosis.

Neuroinformatics

January 2025

Laboratory for Applied Genomics and Bioinnovations, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disease causing myelin and axon damage through inflammatory and autoimmune processes. Despite affecting millions worldwide, understanding its genetic pathways remains limited. The choroid plexus (ChP) has been studied in neurodegenerative processes and diseases like MS due to its dysregulation, yet its role in MS pathophysiology remains unclear.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Cytotoxic DNAs, methylation, histones and histones binding proteins are speculated to induce DNA sensors. Under stressed condition, the antigenic patterns, PAMPs and DAMPs, trigger the hyperactive innate response through DNA, DNA-RNA hybrids, oligonucleotides, histones and mtDNA to initiate cGAMP-STING-IFN I cascade. HSV -1&2, HIV, Varicella- Zoster virus, Polyomavirus, Cytomegalovirus, and KSHV negatively regulate the STING-MAVS-TBK-1/1KKE pathway.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Evaluation of variations in predominant gut microbiota members in inflammatory bowel disease using real-time PCR.

Mol Biol Rep

January 2025

Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Urmia, Iran.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a persistent ailment that impacts many individuals worldwide. The interaction between the immune system and gut microbiome is thought to influence IBD development. This study aimed to assess some microbiota in IBD patients compared to healthy individuals.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!