Increased circulating apoptotic lymphocytes in children with Down syndrome.
Down syndrome (DS) resembles immunodeficiency with increased infections, auto-immune diseases, and hematological malignancies. Until now, immunological studies in DS mainly focused on T-lymphocytes. We recently described a profound B-lymphocytopenia in children with DS. This could be caused by increased apoptosis. Therefore, we determined expression of flowcytometric markers for apoptosis [Annexin-V (AV) and propidium iodide (PI)] on peripheral lymphocytes in 72 children with DS and 32 age-matched controls (AMC). Within the total lymphocyte compartment, apoptosis was more pronounced in DS; it increased with age. Moreover, apoptosis was highest within the B-lymphocyte compartment which may be a contributing factor to the B-lymphocytopenia found in DS. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2012; 59: 1310-1312. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Haematology, Jeroen Bosch Hospital, 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands.
Eugenie F A
EF
Gemen
Ruud H J
RH
Verstegen
Jacqueline
J
Leuvenink
Esther
E
de Vries
D017304:Annexin A5; D017209:Apoptosis; D002648:Child; D004396:Coloring Agents; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D011419:Propidium
D017304:Annexin A5; D004396:Coloring Agents; D011419:Propidium; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate