The influence of age, race, and gender on peripheral blood mononuclear-cell subsets in healthy nonsmokers.
To investigate the influence of age, race, and gender on the cellular immune system, we determined T-cell, B-cell, monocyte, natural killer (NK)-cell, and HLA-DR+-cell subsets in 266 nonsmokers from a population-based random sample of healthy adults using monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry. Blacks had a lower total white blood-cell count than whites (P less than or equal to 0.0001), due primarily to a decrease in granulocytes. There was no significant difference in absolute lymphocyte count between blacks and whites. Blacks had a higher proportion of CD19+ cells (Leu 12+ B cells) and a lower proportion of CD3+ cells (OKT3+ T cells) than whites (P less than or equal to 0.01). Female sex and increasing age were independently associated with an increased percentage of CD4+ cells (OKT4A+ helper-inducer T-cell subset), resulting in a higher helper/suppressor ratio among women and older individuals (P less than or equal to 0.05). Black race and increasing age were independently associated with an increased proportion of HLA-DR+ cells (P less than or equal to 0.0001) which was not attributable to B cells or monocytes. No significant age, race, or gender effects were observed for CD14+ cells (Leu M3+ monocytes) or CD16+ cells (Leu 11A+ natural killer cells). These data demonstrate that age, race, and gender are each associated with significant differences in peripheral blood mononuclear-cell subsets. Population-based data such as these provide an important foundation for future design and interpretation of human flow cytometry data.
Tollerud
D J
DJ
Environmental Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
Clark
J W
JW
Brown
L M
LM
Neuland
C Y
CY
Pankiw-Trost
L K
LK
Blattner
W A
WA
Hoover
R N
RN
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D002469:Cell Separation; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000145:classification*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology; D044469:Racial Groups; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens