title: Gestational age-related changes in the peripheral blood cell composition of sub-Saharan African women.
abstract: Gestational age-related changes in the cellular composition of peripheral blood have not been described in sub-Saharan African settings. We conducted longitudinal cohort studies in Beninese and Tanzanian mothers with quantification of peripheral blood mononuclear cell-types ex vivo using flow cytometry. Between the second trimester and delivery the frequency of CD4(+) T cells declined significantly, contrasting with a non-significant increase in CD8(+) T cells, but no changes in T-regulatory, NK or NKT cell frequencies. Antigen-presenting cell profiles were also unaltered, although non-significant trends were evident. These changes resemble in some respects those reported during pregnancies in developed countries, but differ in others.
authors.affiliation: Centre d'étude et de recherche sur le paludisme associé à la grossesse et à l'enfance (CERPAGE), Faculté des Sciences de la Santé, Université d'Abomey-Calavi, Benin.
authors.forename: Samad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ibitokou
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brutus
authors.forename: Bertin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vianou
authors.forename: Mayke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oesterholt
authors.forename: Achille
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Massougbodji
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Deloron
authors.forename: Marita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Troye-Blomberg
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fievet
authors.forename: Adrian J F
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Luty
mesh_terms: D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002469:Cell Separation; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D055611:Natural Killer T-Cells / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology