Values for [alpha][beta] and [gamma][delta] T-lymphocytes and CD4+, CD8+, and CD56+ subsets in healthy adult subjects: Assessment by age and gender

• Published in: Cytometry. Part B, Clinical cytometry Vol. 82B; no. 4; pp. 238 - 244
• Main Authors: Andreu-Ballester, J C, Garcia-Ballesteros, C, Benet-Campos, C, Amigo, V, Almela-Quilis, A, Mayans, J, Ballester, F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-07-2012
• ISSN: 1552-4949; 1552-4957
• DOI: 10.1002/cyto.b.21020

Background: Normal reference values in healthy subjects for T-lymphocytes for both types of receptors, [alpha][beta] and [gamma][delta], and their subsets are yet to be defined. The aim of this study was to measure peripheral blood [alpha][beta] and [gamma][delta] total T-lymphocytes and their subsets in a population of healthy subjects, in order to obtain valid reference values for studies in human pathology. Methods: We studied a total of 157 healthy subjects, 78 men and 79 women, establishing their levels of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD56+, [alpha][beta]CD3+, [alpha][beta]CD3+CD4+, [alpha][beta]CD3+CD8+, [alpha][beta]CD3+CD56+, [gamma][delta]CD3+, [gamma][delta]CD3+CD4-CD8-, [gamma][delta]CD3+CD8+, and [gamma][delta]CD3+CD56+ T-cells by flow cytometry. The T-cell subsets were compared for different age and gender groups. Results: A significant decrease in CD3+, CD3+CD4+, CD3+CD4+ [alpha][beta], and CD3+ [gamma][delta] T-cells was observed in elderly subjects. CD3+, CD3+ [alpha][beta], and CD3+CD4+ [alpha][beta] T-cells increased in women, while CD3+CD56+ [alpha][beta] T-cells increased in men. Conclusions. These reference values could be useful in further research studies for assessing changes that occur in the different [alpha][beta] and [gamma][delta] T subsets in human pathology. © 2012 International Clinical Cytometry Society [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]