Age-dependent changes of human blood lymphocyte subpopulations.
T- and B-lymphocyte populations were enumerated at four stages of life: at the newly born, infant, adult and aged stages. The proportion of T cells detected by E rosettes and an anti-human T-lymphocyte antigen (HTLA) serum incresed from new-born children to adults, then decreased with ageing. The antiserum detected less mature T cells in aged people. The percentages of cell forming 'active' E rosettes increased with ageing. Lower numbers of B cells bearing surface immunoglobulins were found in adults.Complement receptor-bearing lymphocytes (percentages and absolute numbers) decreased from new-born children to aged humans. Finally, the number of monocytes were significantly greater in the young than in adult and aged people. Such results bring new data concerning the age-dependent changes of lymphocyte subpopulations and concerning the significance of various techniques used together to detect mononuclear cell populations in the human peripheral blood.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000032:analysis; D012397:Rosette Formation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell; D003165:Complement System Proteins