Effects of L-carnitine on neutrophil functions in aged rats

Izgut-Uysal V. N., Agac A., Karadoğan İ., Derin N.

MECHANISMS OF AGEING AND DEVELOPMENT, cilt.124, sa.3, ss.341-347, 2003 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 124 Sayı: 3
  • Basım Tarihi: 2003
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/s0047-6374(03)00004-6
  • Dergi Adı: MECHANISMS OF AGEING AND DEVELOPMENT
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.341-347
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: aging, chemotaxis, phagocytosis, superoxide anion, polymorphonuclear leucocytes, ACETYL-L-CARNITINE, PHORBOL-ESTER STIMULATION, PROPIONYL-L-CARNITINE, POLYMORPHONUCLEAR LEUKOCYTES, IMMUNE-SYSTEM, DOUBLE-BLIND, PLASMA, BRAIN, PHAGOCYTOSIS, MACROPHAGES
  • Akdeniz Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Several age-related alterations occur at the cellular level in the immune system leading to a decrease in the immune response. The present study was designed to determine the effect of L-carnitine on impaired neutrophil functions of aged rats. For this reason, superoxide anion radical production, chemotaxis and phagocytic activity were studied in the neutrophils obtained from the peripheral blood of young and old rats. We orally gavaged L-carnitine (50 mg/kg b.w. per day) or control vehicle into young (2 months) and aged (24 months) rats for 30 consecutive days. The neutrophils of aged rats exhibited an increase in superoxide anion production and decline in phagocytosis and chemotaxis when compared with that in young rat neutrophils. Superoxide anion production in aged rats was significantly decreased by L-carnitine treatment which was accompanied with a significant enhancement of chemotactic and phagocytic activity being restored to control levels. These findings demonstrated that L-carnitine is capable of restoring the age-related changes of neutrophil functions. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.