5 . 2021

Age-related changes in the content of αβ-, γδ-T-lymphocytes and some its minor subpopulations in healthy children

Abstract

Introduction. Determination of the qualitative and quantitative content of cells of the immune system in healthy children is important for the formation of normal cell’s parameters, which is necessary both for research purposes and for clinical use. Data on the quantitative content of αβ-, γδ-T-lymphocytes and, especially, its minor subpopulations in children of different age groups are limited and extremely contradictory, so there is a need for such studies.

Aim of the study – to search the relative and absolute content of lymphocytes, Т-lymphocytes, αβ- and γδ-Т-lymphocytes, minor subpopulations: double negative and double positive T cells (DNT- and DPT-cells) in the peripheral blood of healthy children of different ages and to assess the correlation between the studied parameters and the age of children.

Material and methods. The venous blood samples of 83 healthy children (boys and girls), aged from 7 months to 14 years, was carried out. Monoclonal antibodies conjugated with various fluorochromes were used to detect the content of lymphocytes and its subpopulations. Determination of the number and percentage of lymphocytes and its subpopulations was carried out by flow cytometry.

Results. A decrease in the absolute number of γδ-T-killers in the blood of older children was found. The content of γδ-Т-lymphocytes, DNT- and DPT-cells remained stable in all age groups.

Conclusion. The decrease in the percentage of lymphocytes in healthy children depends on age. The absolute number of lymphocytes, T-lymphocytes, αβ-T cells and γδ-T-killers progressively decreases with age, while the number of γδ-T-lymphocytes, γδ-T-helpers, DPT- and DNT-cells remains unchanged.

Keywords:T cells; αβ-T-lymphocytes; γδ-Т-lymphocytes; healthy children; minor subpopulations; flow cytometry

For citation: Bogomyagkova E.N., Solpov A.V., Tereshkov P.P., Trushina N.G., Vitkovsky Yu.A. Age-related changes in the content of αβ-, γδ-Т-lymphocytes and some its minor subpopulations in healthy children. Immunologiya. 2021; 42 (5): 526–35. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33029/0206-4952-2021-42-4-526-535 (in Russian)

Funding. The study had no sponsor support.

Conflict of interests. Authors declare no conflict of interests.

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