CD4(+) CD25(+) T-cell production in healthy humans and in patients with thymic hypoplasia.
Regulatory T cells are found primarily in the CD4(+) CD25(+) fraction of T cells and play an important role in the prevention of autoimmunity. We examined CD4(+) CD25(+) T cells in 33 healthy children and adults and compared them to a population with an inherited form of thymic hypoplasia and a predisposition to autoimmune disease. Absolute numbers of CD4(+) CD25(+) T cells were markedly higher in healthy infants than in infants with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.
Division of Immunologic and Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA. sullivak@mail.med.upenn.edu
Kathleen E
KE
Sullivan
Donna
D
McDonald-McGinn
Elaine H
EH
Zackai
D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*
D015704:CD4 Antigens; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2