Two-color immunofluorescence and flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in Caucasian and Japanese healthy subjects.
Two-color immunofluorescence using multiparameter flow cytometry was employed to examine the antigenic characteristics of peripheral blood lymphocytes in whole blood of healthy Caucasians and Japanese. The CD4/CD8 ratio in Japanese was significantly decreased compared with that in Caucasians, because of the increased number of CD8+ cells. Although the proportions of suppressor-inducer T cells (CD4+, Leu-8+) and helper-inducer T cells (naive T cells) (CD4+, CD45RA-) were low in Japanese subjects, there were no differences in the absolute numbers of suppressor-inducer T cells and helper-inducer T cells (naive T cells) in circulation. The level of activated T cells in Japanese was similar to that in Caucasians. NK cells, CD57+, CD8+ cells and CD57+, CD3+ cells were high in Japanese. Regarding B cell subsets, CD5+ B cells and activated B cells remained unchanged. However, there were slight differences in Leu-8+ B cells and Fc epsilon R+ B cells (CD20+, CD23+) between the two groups. Thus, a differing influence of racial and environmental background between healthy Caucasians and healthy Japanese on human lymphocyte subsets is present in the lymphocyte immunophenotype.
Senju
M
M
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Japan.
Makiyama
K
K
Hara
K
K
Hulstaert
F
F
Lowder
J N
JN
Jewell
D P
DP
D000328:Adult; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D044466:Asian People; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D044465:White People
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation