The age-related impairment of the immune function (immunosenescence) could be consequence of the oxidative stress situation in aging. The leukocytes, in their normal function against antigens produce free radical and inflammatory compounds, which are able to destroy foreign agents and malignant cells, but, if there is an excess of those compounds, a damage of immune cells and other cells can occur. We have analyzed the levels of several oxidants, proinflammatory compounds, antioxidants and oxidative damage to DNA and lipid in peritoneal immune cells from CD1 mice throughout the age. We have also studied those parameters in peritoneal leukocytes from male and female adult prematurely aging mice (PAM) in comparison to those from non-prematurely-aging mice (NPAM), as well as the oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in several organs such as spleen, heart, brain, kidney and liver from these animals.

The results showed that with aging the levels of oxidants, proinflammatory compounds and the oxidation of lipids and DNA increase, whereas the antioxidant defences decrease in peritoneal leukocytes from mice. Likewise this occurs in the immune cells from PAM in contrast to NPAM. The levels of oxidative stress and lipid damage in all the organs studied were higher in males than females and in PAM than in NPAM. In conclusion, there is a relation between the level of oxidative stress of the immune cells, their functional capacity, the oxidative stress situation in other organs and the longevity of the animals.Financial support: MEC (BFU2005-06777) grant.