Reference values for peripheral blood B-lymphocyte subpopulations: a basis for multiparametric immunophenotyping of abnormal lymphocytes.
OBJECTIVE
Immunophenotyping has become a useful tool for the differential diagnosis of chronic B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders. The aim of this work was to determine reference values of normal B-cell subpopulations.


METHODS
Blood samples from 38 healthy volunteers were analyzed by multidimensional flow cytometry, using a panel of directly conjugated antibodies. Results were expressed as percent of positive B cells and as median fluorescence intensity, an indirect assessment of the expression level.


RESULTS
CD20, CD22, CD24, CD40, CD79a, CD79b, FMC7, CD11a, CD18, CD44 were positive in the whole B cell population, whereas CD10, CD86, CD103, CD154 and FasL were almost absent from the B-lymphocyte population. 75% were IgD positive. The kappa/lambda ratio was 1.5. CD5, CD23, CD25, CD38, CD43, CD54, CD62L, CD80 and CD95 were positive in different B-cell subpopulations. The utility of all these markers in the differential diagnosis of chronic B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders is discussed.


CONCLUSIONS
In order to interpret a pathological immunophenotype, it is necessary to refer to quantitative and qualitative values of normal B-cell subpopulations.
Deneys
V
V
Université Catholique de Louvain, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Immunohaematology Laboratory, Clos Chapelle-aux-Champs, 30 BP 30.52, 1200, Brussels, Belgium. deneys@sang.ucl.ac.be
Mazzon
A M
AM
Marques
J L
JL
Benoit
H
H
De Bruyère
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000145:classification*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005453:Fluorescence; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping / Q000379:methods*; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values
D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte