[Characterization of CD4+ CD25+ T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of Chinese rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)].
OBJECTIVE
To characterize the CD4(+) CD25(+) T lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood of Chinese rhesus macaques.


METHODS
CD3(+), CD4(+) and CD25(+) cells in the peripheral blood of 50 Chinese origin rhesus macaques were analyzed by three-color flow cytometry.


RESULTS
It was found that all individuals had circulating CD4(+) CD25(+) T lymphocytes. In average, 9.1% (ranging from 2.6% to 18.1%) of CD4(+) T cells were CD4(+) CD25(+) T lymphocytes. CD3(+) CD4(+) CD25(high) cells represented only 2.5% (0.3% to 5.5%) of the CD4(+) T lymphocytes. No statistically significant differences in the frequency of CD4(+) CD25(+) T lymphocytes or their subsets were observed between different age groups or between the male and the female rhesus macaques.


CONCLUSIONS
The frequency of CD4(+) CD25(+) T cells and CD4(+) CD25(high) T cells in the peripheral blood of Chinese rhesus macaques is similar to that in human peripheral blood, indicating that Chinese rhesus macaques may be very useful in bio-medical research on human diseases related to CD4(+) CD25(+) T lymphocytes.
Yang
Gui-bo
GB
State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, China-CDC, Beijing 100050, China. guibyang@public.bta.net.cn
Zhao
Hui
H
Qiu
Chen-li
CL
Shao
Yi-ming
YM
D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000276:immunology*; D008253:Macaca mulatta / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male
D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit