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, 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 a beta and gamma delta T subsets in human pathology. (c) 2012 International Clinical Cytometry Society