Blood lymphocyte subsets in canine idiopathic pericardial effusion.
The immunophenotype of peripheral blood lymphocytes was investigated in 23 dogs diagnosed with idiopathic pericardial effusion in order to provide information about a possible role of the immune system in this pathology. Flow cytometric analysis showed a significant reduction in nearly all lymphocyte subsets examined and a strong, significant (P < 0.001) reduction of the CD4 subset, which gave rise to a significantly lower CD4/CD8 ratio. Our data suggest that an imbalance in the immune system is present during the course of the disease, preferentially affecting the T helper cell response.
Guglielmino
R
R
Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Turin, Via Leonardo da Vinci 44, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy. roberta.guglielmino@unito.it
Miniscalco
B
B
Tarducci
A
A
Borgarelli
M
M
Riondato
F
F
Zini
E
E
Borrelli
A
A
Bussadori
C
C
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D001772:Blood Cell Count / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000662:veterinary; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*