Infection in the Elderly Clinical Trial
Official title:
The Involvement of the Translation Initiation Factors eIF4E and eIF4G in Resolution of Inflammation in the Elderly Population
Aging cause specific changes in the immune system. Processes like "immunoessence" and
"inflammaging" offend the functioning of the immune cells and expose the elderly patient to
infections that can lead to morbidity and death.
Protein translation regulation offers a strategic advantage to the immune cells, because it
enables rapid activation or termination of synthesis of specific proteins, required for
inflammation or its resolution. Translation initiation depends on recruitment of eukaryotic
initiation factor "eIF4F" complex.
The aim of the current study is to investigate the involvement of the translation initiation
factors (eIF4E and eIF4G) in the process of recovery from acute infection in elderly patient
admitted to the internal department with an acute infection.
1. Blood samples of elderly patients diagnosed with acute infection (fever and
leukocytosis) will be collected twice - at admittance to Meir hospital and after
recovery (24-48 hours without fever and leukocytosis). evidence of infection (chest x
ray, urine and blood samples) will be collected. participants will be divided to two
age groups: 65-80 yrs and very old patient >85 yrs, and will be compared to younger
patients aged 50-65.
2. Peripheral blood samples will be separated to subpopulations of lymphocytes, monocytes
and polymorphonuclears, and protein will be extracted.
3. protein lysates will be separated by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis and immunoblotted for
phosphorylated and total eIF4E and eIF4G; their regulators: Mnk 1/2, 4EBP1, mTOR and
targets: cyclin D1, c-Myc, survivin, BCL2, VEGFA, etc.
4. Paired samples (within each age group) will be analyzed and correlated with clinical
response of the patients. The source of the infection will also be considered.
5. Comparison between age groups at admittance and upon recovery will be made (Unpaired).
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Observational Model: Cohort, Time Perspective: Prospective