Lymphocyte and NK cell subpopulations in HIV seronegative Thais.
Lymphocyte subpopulations, i.e. T, B and natural killer (NK) cells including NK cell subsets which express CD16 molecules (with or without co-expression of CD56 molecules) and NK cell subsets which express CD56 molecules (with or without co-expression of CD16 molecules) were enumerated by two color-flow cytometry in a total of 125 HIV seronegative Thai adults. The study demonstrated relatively low CD4 counts in the subjects, i.e. 26.3% of them had a CD4 count of less than 500 cells/microl. In contrast, their NK cell counts were relatively high. Statistical analyses of the percentage values showed that females had significantly higher CD3 (total T cells), but lower NK cell counts as compared to males (p < 0.05). Regarding age variation, an increase of 1.1% of CD4 cells per decade was seen. It was roughly estimated that about 86% of NK cells harbored both CD16 and CD56 molecules. Collective data from several studies including the present one suggest that high NK cell counts may be a compensation for low CD4 cell counts in Mongoloid people. Thus, the role of NK cells in the defense cascade against viral infections, especially human immunodeficiency virus infections deserves further investigation.
Assawawitoontip
Sujin
S
Department of Microbiology, Mahidol University, Thailand.
Puthavathana
Pilaipan
P
Pattanapanyasat
Kovit
K
Sukpanichnant
Sathien
S
Thammataksin
Sauwalak
S
Honda
Mitsuo
M
Warachit
Paijit
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D018023:HIV Seronegativity / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte