title: Sex difference in the CD4 + CD45R+ T lymphocytes in normal individuals and its selective decrease in women with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.
abstract: Chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a well-defined autoimmune hematologic disorder. It is more common in women than men. We have shown that patients with active disease have abnormal T cell subsets which are more perturbed in women than in men and functional abnormalities that are confined to the T lymphocytes. In the current study, the anti-2H4 (CD45R) monoclonal antibody was used to divide the CD4 subset into their CD4+ CD45R+ and CD4+ CD45R- T lymphocytes. The subpopulations were measured in the peripheral blood of 26 women and 15 men with active ITP, 16 women and 8 men with disease in remission, and 33 normal healthy women and men. Normal women had increased percentages (P less than 0.0001) and numbers (P less than 0.005) of the CD4+ CD45R+ lymphocytes compared to normal men. Women with active disease had reduced percentages and numbers of CD4+ CD45R+ lymphocytes compared to normal women (P less than 0.0001) and women with disease in remission (P less than 0.001). Those women with decreased CD4+ CD45R+ lymphocytes had a significantly depressed lymphocyte response to polyclonal T cell mitogens. In contrast, men with active disease had neither such phenotypic changes nor functional correlations. The percentages and numbers of CD4+ CD45R- lymphocytes were not changed in either sex with active disease. In conclusion, women, but not men, with active ITP appear to possess a reduced subpopulation of CD4+ CD45R+ T lymphocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Miami School of Medicine, Florida.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mylvaganam
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Sprinz
authors.forename: R O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Harrington
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000032:analysis*; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis*; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003613:Danazol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens; D003613:Danazol