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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #163036
Title: GENE EXPRESSION PROFILING OF IMMUNE CELLS: APPLICATION FOR UNDERSTANDING AGING OF IMMUNE CELLS

Author
item HAN, SUNG - TUFTS-HNRCA
item MEYDANI, SIMIN - TUFTS-HNRCA

Submitted to: Genomics and Proteomics in Nutrition
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/11/2003
Publication Date: 8/1/2004
Citation: Han, S.N., Meydani, S.N., 2004. Gene expression profiling of immune cells: Application for understanding aging of immune cells. In: Moustaid-Moussa N., Derdanier, C.D., editors. Genomics and Proteomics in Nutrition. New York, NY: Marcel Dekker, Inc. p. 297-315.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Aging is associated with the dysregulation of immune and inflammatory responses which is believed to contribute to the higher morbidity and mortality from infection, neoplastic, and inflammatory diseases. Studies indicate that multitude of defects involving different immune cells are responsible for the decline of immune function and dysregulation of inflammatory responses observed with aging. However, understanding the underlying mechanisms of these changes has progressed slowly because activation and response of immune cells involve several pathways with complex interactions. Recent development in microarray analysis technique makes it feasible to measure mRNA abundance for large sets of genes, using a small number of cells. In the past few years, there has been a surge in the use of microarray technique in an effort to identify and characterize the gene regulation of immune systems including development, differentiation, maturation, lineage commitment, and activation of various immune cells. However, few studies have utilized microarray analysis in determining the effect of aging on the study of immune cells. In this chapter, recent investigations on gene expression profiling of the immune cells as well as application of this technique to understand the molecular mechanisms of age-associated immune dysregulation will be discussed.