Ageing and Duodenal Mucosal Immunity

Abstract

The production of immunoglobulins by duodenal mucosa in young and old subjects was studied. For 20 elderly people (mean age 85.3 years) and 18 young subjects (mean age 34.5 years) the amounts of the immunoglobulins IgA, IgG and IgM synthesized and secreted by a duodenal biopsy over a 2-day period were compared. There was no significant difference in the immunoglobulin production between the two groups. This suggests that age itself may have no effect on duodenal mucosal immunity.