Values for αβ and γδ T-lymphocytes and CD4+, CD8+, and CD56+ subsets in healthy adult subjects: Assessment by age and gender

Background: Normal reference values in healthy subjects for T-lymphocytes for both types of receptors, αβ and γδ, and their subsets are yet to be defined. The aim of this study was to measure peripheral blood αβ and γδ 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+, αβCD3+, αβCD3+CD4+, αβCD3+CD8+, αβCD3+CD56+, γδCD3+, γδCD3+CD4−CD8−, γδCD3+CD8+, and γδCD3+CD56+ T-cells by flow cytometry. The T-cell subsets were compared for different age and gender groups. Results: …

Anti-Anisakis sp. antibodies in serum of healthy subjects. Relationship with αβ and γδ T cells

Anisakiosis is nowadays one of the nematodoses more prevalent in Spain, with rates that oscillate between 0.43% in Galicia (N.W. Spain), and 15.7% and 22.1% in inland and southern regions, respectively. Likewise, it has been proved that Anisakis larvae have developed mechanisms to modulate the dichotomy of the host immune response for their own benefit. The experimental hypothesis of the present study was that Anisakis sp. larval products can be mediators of immune suppression and induce changes on the populations of αβ+ and γδ+ T cells. In the present study we determined the levels of anti-Anisakis antibodies in the serum of healthy people, and their relationship with the B and T cell subs…

Deficit of Interleukin-7 in Serum of Patients with Crohn's Disease

Deficit of interleukin 7 in septic patients.

We recently demonstrated an overall decrease of all αβ and specially γδ T cell subsets in patients with sepsis compared with healthy subjects. IL-7 is a crucial factor for development of γδ T cells and survival in sepsis but its association with sepsis severity, evolution of organ failure and death still has not been investigated. Sera from 78 patients who met criteria for sepsis were analyzed vs control group. Septic patients showed the lowest levels of IL-7. Patients with severe sepsis reached levels of IL-7 higher than those observed in the groups of uncomplicated sepsis and septic shock. The frequency of γδ T cells at admission was lower in septic patients vs control group. At the time …

Microsporidia and Its Relation to Crohn's Disease. A Retrospective Study

Background: The cause of Crohn's Disease (CD) remains unknown. Recently a decrease in the global lymphocyte population in the peripheral blood of CD patients has been reported. This decrease was more evident in gamma delta T lymphocytes, especially gamma delta CD8+T subsets. Furthermore, a decrease of IL-7 was also observed in these patients. We propose the hypothesis that microsporidia, an obligate intracellular opportunistic parasite recently related to fungi, in CD patients can take advantage of the lymphocytes and IL-7 deficits to proliferate and to contribute to the pathophysiology of this disease. Methods and Findings: In this case-control study, serum samples were collected from 36 C…

Association of γδ T Cells with Disease Severity and Mortality in Septic Patients

ABSTRACTGamma-delta T cells are the most abundant of all epithelial-resident lymphocytes and are considered a first line of defense against pathogens in the mucosa. Our objective was to confirm the reduction in γδ T cell subsets and its relationship with mortality in patients with sepsis. We studied 135 patients with sepsis attended in the emergency department and intensive care unit of two hospitals and compared them with a similar control group of healthy subjects. The αβ and γδ T cell subsets were determined via flow cytometry according to the stage of the sepsis and its relationship with mortality. All the lymphocyte subsets were reduced with respect to the corresponding subsets in the …