Age-related changes in naive and memory CD4+ T cells in healthy human children.
Subsets of CD4+ T cells originally identified functionally as suppressor-inducer and helper-inducer populations have recently been reinterpreted as naive and memory maturational states. The subsets can be identified by the surface expression of CD45R and CDw29, respectively. Using two-color flow cytometric analysis, we measured these CD4+ T cell subsets in two samples of cord blood and in 26 healthy children between the ages of 1 and 19 years. As has been reported by others, we observed that the majority of CD4+ T cells in cord blood consist predominantly of the CD45R+ subset. With aging we could demonstrate a gradual acquisition of CDw29+, CD4+ T cells and a concomitant gradual decrease in the percentage of CD45R+, CD4+ T cells. These age-related changes are consistent with the concept of naive (CD45R+) and memory (CDw29+) subsets. Further, because of the dynamic changes, their utilization as prognostic indicators in immunologic disease states cannot be applied to children in the same manner as adults.
Pirruccello
S J
SJ
Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha 68105-1065.
Collins
M
M
Wilson
J E
JE
McManus
B M
BM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000032:analysis; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D019012:Integrin beta1; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification*
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D019012:Integrin beta1; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens