Age-Related Changes in Blood Lymphocyte Subsets of Saudi Arabian Healthy Children

Abstract

The age-related changes in absolute and percentage values of lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood of healthy children of different ages (1 month to 13 years) were studied by flow cytometry. The absolute and percentage values for most lymphocyte subpopulations differed substantially with age. Comparisons among age groups from infants through adults revealed progressive declines in the absolute numbers of leukocytes, total lymphocytes, and T, B, and natural killer (NK) cells. The percentages of T cells increased with age. Within the T-lymphocyte population, the CD8+ subset increased but the CD4+ subset decreased, resulting in a declining CD4+/CD8+ ratio. The percentage of B cells declined, but that of NK cells remained unchanged. The percentage of HLA-DR+ T cells increased over time, but their number changed inconsistently. Our findings confirm and extend earlier reports on age-related changes in lymphocyte subpopulations. These data should be useful in the interpretation of disease-related changes, as well as therapy-dependent alterations, in lymphocyte subsets in children of different age groups.

CD4⁺ T-Lymphocyte counts among under-5 children with protein-energy malnutrition as seen in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital , Sokoto, Nigeria

“…Types of Mean±SD CD4 + T-Lymphocytes Counts (cells/µL) PEM 6.0-11.9 mo 12.0-23.9 mo 24.0-35.9 mo 36.0-47.9 mo 48.0-59.9 mo Total both in and outside Nigeria. 17,[20][21][22][23] The absolute CD4 + Tlymphocyte counts for age in this series was within normal reference values reported among American 21 and Saudi Arabian children 22 but were higher compared to the values reported by Emmanuel et al 20 among healthy Nigerian children in 2009 in Lagos. The difference may be related to the machine (FACScount machine) used in enumerating CD4 + T-cells count in their study.…”

“…This is similar to earlier findings among under-5 children both in and outside Nigeria. [20][21][22][23] This implies that the CD4 + T-cell percent is relatively stable with no significant change in children below 5years; hence, it is very useful and reliable as a guide in treatment decisions and monitoring of under-5 children with HIV infection.…”

Lymphocytes subsets reference values in childhood

“…Although the test is technically very simple, broadly available, and inexpensive, it is important for its interpretation to compare patients' results with reliable reference values, which need to be age‐matched, since the absolute and relative count of lymphocyte subsets greatly varies according to the age. For this reason, many groups over the last years have tried to produce adequate reference values for immunophenotyping in childhood , but most of these works are insufficient for size, age distribution, or markers considered (e.g., the majority analyzed only lymphocytes subsets and none of the activation markers).…”

Age‐related changes in lymphocyte subpopulations in healthy Thai children

“…Age has the greatest impact on the percentages of lymphocyte subsets compared with other factors. In addition, age‐related changes in peripheral lymphocyte subsets have been demonstrated, especially during early life. Therefore, it is essential to establish reference values for lymphocyte subpopulations in various age groups to enable appropriate immunological assessments.…”