title: Reference intervals for leukocyte subsets in adults: Results from a population-based study using 10-color flow cytometry.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Reference intervals for leukocyte subsets from peripheral blood are helpful for the understanding of disease states and therapy effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed in-depth immunophenotyping for 608 healthy German adults from the Leipzig region from 40 to 79 years by 10-color flow cytometry (FCM) to gain reference information for various leukocyte subsets including subsets of granulocytes, monocytes and lymphocytes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  First, we derived gender- and age-specific reference intervals for males and females from 40 to 59 and from 60 to 79 years, respectively. Second, we further investigated the influence of gender and age on leukocyte counts. We found significantly higher cell counts for monocytes (P < 0.001) and NK cells (P < 0.001) in men, whereas women had higher counts for B cells (P < 0.001), Th cells (P < 0.001) and regulatory T cells (P = 0.008). Furthermore, with increasing age, a decrease in Tc cells (about 8% within 5 years) and an increase in NK cells (<4% within 5 years) were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In future research, it should be investigated whether these are real ageing effects that can be confirmed in longitudinal studies. Furthermore, it is important to understand if the Tc cell count drop is functionally compensated by the increase of NK cells.
authors.affiliation: LIFE, Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, Universität Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Straße 27, Leipzig, D-04103, Germany.|Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Heart Center Leipzig GmbH, Universität Leipzig, Strümpellstr. 39, Leipzig, D-04289, Germany.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Melzer
authors.affiliation: LIFE, Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, Universität Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Straße 27, Leipzig, D-04103, Germany.|Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology, Universität Leipzig, Härtelstraße 16-18, Leipzig, D-, 04107, Germany.
authors.forename: Silke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zachariae
authors.affiliation: LIFE, Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, Universität Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Straße 27, Leipzig, D-04103, Germany.|Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Heart Center Leipzig GmbH, Universität Leipzig, Strümpellstr. 39, Leipzig, D-04289, Germany.
authors.forename: Jozsef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bocsi
authors.affiliation: LIFE, Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, Universität Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Straße 27, Leipzig, D-04103, Germany.|Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology, Universität Leipzig, Härtelstraße 16-18, Leipzig, D-, 04107, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Engel
authors.affiliation: LIFE, Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, Universität Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Straße 27, Leipzig, D-04103, Germany.|Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology, Universität Leipzig, Härtelstraße 16-18, Leipzig, D-, 04107, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Löffler
authors.affiliation: LIFE, Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, Universität Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Straße 27, Leipzig, D-04103, Germany.|Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Heart Center Leipzig GmbH, Universität Leipzig, Strümpellstr. 39, Leipzig, D-04289, Germany.|Translational Centre for Regenerative Medicine (TRM) Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Str. 55, Leipzig, D-04103, Germany.
authors.forename: Attila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tárnok
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods*; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology; D011153:Population; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal
keywords: healthy adults; leukocyte subsets; multicolor flow cytometry; peripheral blood; reference intervals