Lymphocyte subpopulations in megaloblastic anaemia due to vitamin B-12 deficiency.
Lymphocyte subpopulations were measured in the blood of 17 patients with megaloblastic anaemia due to vitamin B-12 deficiency. 14 patients had pernicious anaemia and 3 others were gastrectomized. By using monoclonal antibodies recognizing T cell surface markers and immunofluorescence microscopy, we found a significant decrease in the number of circulating suppressor T cells and an increase in the ratio of helper to suppressor T lymphocytes in pernicious anaemia patients. This finding may be related to other immune abnormalities found in pernicious anaemia, e.g. the presence of multiple autoantibodies.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000748:Anemia, Macrocytic / Q000276:immunology*; D000749:Anemia, Megaloblastic / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D000752:Anemia, Pernicious / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*