Peripheral blood T and B lymphocytes in men in different age groups.
Peripheral blood T and B lymphocytes were determined in normal humans at different ages. Spontaneous rosette formation with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) was used as a marker for T cells. B cells were detected by immunofluorescent staining of membrane-bound immunoglobulins. Blood samples from old individuals contained significantly lower T lymphocyte numbers than those from children. This diminution of circulating T cells caused a reduction of the total lymphocyte count in the elderly persons. No significant differences were between the T cell values of young and old adults. Whereas the percentages of B cells indicated an increase of this lymphocyte population in old humans, the absolute numbers of B lymphocytes remained almost unchanged during aging.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D001773:Blood Cells; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007104:Immune Adherence Reaction; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*