OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of relative telomere length (RTL) of peripheral blood (PB) CD3⁺, CD3⁺CD4⁺, CD3⁺CD8⁺T lymphocytes, CD19⁺B lymphocytes and bone marrow (BM) CD34⁺ cells and its association with disease severity in untreated patients with immuno-related pancytopenia (IRP).

METHODSThe PB CD3⁺ , CD3⁺ CD4⁺ , CD3⁺ CD8⁺ T lymphocytes, CD19⁺ B lymphocytes, and BM CD34⁺ cells were purified by magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS), and RTL were measured with flow-fluorescence in situ hybridization (FLOW-FISH).

RESULTSThe RTL of CD3⁺, CD3⁺CD4⁺ , and CD3⁺CD8⁺T lymphocytes in untreated IRP patients were (27.754 ± 16.323)%, (7.526 ± 3.745)% and (25.854 ± 14.789)%, respectivly, which were significantly shorter than those in healthy-controls (54.555 ± 19.782)%, (12.096 ± 2.805)%, and (38.367 ± 4.626)% (P<0.05). The RTL of CD19⁺ lymphocytes in untreated IRP patients was (22.136 ± 16.142)%, which was significantly shorter than that in healthy controls (42.846 ± 16.353)% (P<0.01). There was no significant difference of BM CD34⁺ cells RTL between the untreated IRP patients (22.528 ± 21.601)% and the healthy controls (23.936 ± 19.822)% (P>0.05). There were significantly positive correlations between the RTL of B lymphocytes and the count of white blood cell (r=0.706, P=0.015). There were negative correlations between RTL of B lymphocytes and the clinical symptoms (r=-0.613, P=0.045) and positive correlations with therapeutic effect (r=0.775, P=0.005).

CONCLUSIONThe shorter RTL of CD3⁺, CD3⁺CD4⁺, CD3⁺CD8⁺, CD19⁺ lymphocytes, and the normal RTL of BM CD34⁺ cells in untreated IRP patients were identified, which might imply that IRP is a type of acquired autoimmune diseases.

Adolescent ; Adult ; B-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; ultrastructure ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancytopenia ; immunology ; pathology ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology ; Telomere ; ultrastructure ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDTo study characteristics of peripheral T cell subsets in 94 children with chronic hepatitis B and to elucidate its relationships with clinical status and hepatic pathology.

METHODSPeripheral T cell subsets were detected using flow cytometric analysis with specific monoclonal antibodies staining in 94 patients with HBV infection. The authors simultaneously detected their serum ALT, markers of HBV infection and examined liver biopsy material for pathological changes.

RESULTSIn patients with serious liver lesion, the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ cells was significantly higher than those with mild lesion (1.41+/-0.54 vs 1.08+/-0.35, P less than 0.05), which seemed to be associated with the various liver lesions among the patients. In female cases, the levels of CD4+ T cells and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ T cells were higher than their counterpart in male cases (33.1+/-5.39 vs 28.8+/-6.28, 1.28+/-0.32 vs 1.02+/-0.36, P less than 0.05), but the level of CD8+ T cells was lower than those in males (26.79+/-4.66 vs 30.51+/-7.17, P less than 0.05). There was no obvious correlation between T cell subsets and circulating HBV viral load, the size of spleen among the HBV-infected children.

CONCLUSIONThe characteristics of peripheral T cell subsets probably suggests the immune disorder occurred in these children with hepatitis B compared with healthy controls and its mechanism needs further investigation.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; immunology ; pathology ; Humans ; Infant ; Liver ; pathology ; Male ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology

The pathogenesis of some autoimmune diseases has been considered to be related to abnormal differentiation of T cell subsets. This study was aimed at investigating the change of Th1-like and Th2-like cells balance in ITP children, and analyzing the role of T cell subsets disequilibrium in the pathogenesis of ITP. Peripheral blood T cells were collected from 30 ITP patients, the T-cells were isolated and purified. The ratios of Th/Tc, Th1/Th2 and Tc1/Tc2 in peripheral blood T cells were analyzed by immunofluorescence staining and bicolor flow cytometry (FCM) in vitro. The results showed that as compared with the ratios of Th1/Th2 (48.76% +/- 6.17%) and Tc1/Tc2 (18.90% +/- 4.12%) in healthy children, the ratios of Th1/Th2 (56.21% +/- 5.95%) and Tc1/Tc2 (23.09% +/- 3.31%) in ITP children increased obviously. FCM analysis revealed that average percentages of Th, Th1, Th2, Tc, Tc1 and Tc2 were 22.31% +/- 6.51%, 21.92% +/- 6.42%, 0.39% +/- 0.14%, 31.12% +/- 6.15%, 30.95% +/- 5.45% and 1.34% +/- 0.84% in ITP children versus 39.24% +/- 5.82%, 39.01% +/- 5.47%, 0.80% +/- 0.16%, 30.25% +/- 5.63%, 28.72% +/- 5.20% and 1.52% +/- 0.68% in healthy children. The average percentages of Th, Th1 and Th2 decreased obviously, while the average percentages of Tc, Tc1 and Tc2 did not change. It is concluded that the ratios of Th1/Th2 and Tc1/Tc2 in peripheral blood T cells increase obviously in ITP children and the cellular immunity in ITP children shifts to Th1 type immunity superiority, which suggest that the abnormal differentiation of T cell subsets may play an important role in the pathologic process of ITP.
Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; immunology ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology ; metabolism ; pathology ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; chemistry ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo study of serum level of cortisol and peripheral T lymphocyte subsets state in the hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers.

METHODSSixty chronic HBV carriers and ten healthy controls were all enrolled in this present study. Serum expression of cortisol was determined by radioimmunoassay, and also flow cytometry was performed to evaluate peripheral blood T lymphocyte subset.

RESULTSCompared with those in normal controls, the serous levels of cortisol in chronic HBV carriers were significantly elevated, while there was no distinct difference in the proportion of CD4+ T lymphocytes ( P > 0.05) with the decreased odds of CD4+/CD8+ lymphocytes( P < 0.05) and obvious higher proportion of CD8+ T lymphocytes( P < 0.05). In comparison between HBeAg positive group and HBeAg negative group, the serous levels of cortisol of the former group were significantly higher ( P < 0.05), and so proportion of CD8+ T was too ( P < 0.05). However, there is no significant differences in the proportion of CD4+ T lymphocyte ( P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe elevated serum cortisol and increased CD8+ T lymphocytes subsets in the chronic HBV carriers, suggested that there was disturbance of endocrine-immune response in the chronicity of HBV infection.

Adult ; Carrier State ; immunology ; pathology ; virology ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; blood ; immunology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Hepatitis B virus ; immunology ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; blood ; immunology ; Male ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology

It was long believed that platelets are prematurely destroyed in the reticuloendothelial system by platelet autoantibodies in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. However, humoral mechanisms cannot account for all observations made in this disorder, and it is increasingly evident that cellular mechanisms contribute to platelet destruction. In this review the tolerance of T cell, abnormality of T cell apoptosis, abnormal activation of T cells, T cell subtype and its function changes, and T cell-mediated cytotoxicity were summarized.
Apoptosis ; immunology ; Autoantibodies ; immunology ; Humans ; Immune Tolerance ; Immunity, Cellular ; immunology ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; immunology ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; pathology ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer ; immunology

OBJECTIVESTo investigate CD3+CD56+ lymphocytes and their subsets in the peripheral blood of chronic hepatitis B patients and to explore the relationship between these cells and the pathogenesis of their diseases.

METHODSBlood samples from 53 chronic hepatitis B patients, 17 from HBV asymptomatic carriers (ASC) and 19 from healthy controls (HC) were collected. CD3+CD56+ lymphocytes were detected by flow cytometry (FCM), then the CD3+CD56+ lymphocytes were gathered to analyze their expressions of CD4, CD8, TCR Valpha24, TCRalpha/beta and TCRgamma/delta.

RESULTSThe number of CD3+CD56+ lymphocytes of chronic hepatitis B patients (7.4+/-4.6%) was more than those of ASC (4.5%+/-3.5%) and healthy controls (4.4%+/-3.7%). The expressions of TCR Valpha24 on CD3+CD56+ lymphocytes showed no significant differences among the three groups, but the expression of TCR Valpha24 on CD3-CD56+ lymphocytes of ASC ( 2.8%+/-1.4% ) was much more than that of the HC (1.7%+/-1.0%). For the subsets analysis, the CD8 and TCRalpha/beta subsets of CD3+CD56+ lymphocytes of chronic hepatitis B (61.9%+/-16.8% and 68.1%+/-16.9%) were significantly higher than those of the HC (49.2%+/-15.6% and 56.4%+/-17.9%), while the TCRgamma/delta subsets of chronic hepatitis B and ASC (29.6%+/-15.4% and 30.5%+/-14.8%) were decreased significantly than those of the HC (41.4%+/-19.4%). On the other hand, the CD8 and TCRalpha/beta subsets of CD3+CD56+ lymphocytes of severe chronic hepatitis B (69.0%+/-14.0% and 76.1%+/-12.9%) and CD8 subsets of moderate chronic hepatitis B patients (66.4%+/-14.9%) were significantly higher than those of the mild chronic hepatitis B patients (51.4%+/-16.2% and 62.1%+/-14.6%).

CONCLUSIONThe pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis B may positively relate to the high expression of CD8 on the CD3+CD56+ lymphocytes.

Adult ; CD3 Complex ; immunology ; CD56 Antigen ; immunology ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; immunology ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology ; Young Adult

Immune mediated suppression of hematopoiesis has been considered as one of the most important mechanisms leading to pancytopenia in myelodysplastic syndromes. This research was aimed at evaluating immune state of the MDS patients, analyzing the peripheral blood T cell subsets and CD3zeta chain expression and searching the possible reasons of hematopoietic disorders in 11 cases of MDS. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected from 11 patients whose diagnosis was confirmed according to the new WHO diagnostic criteria. Flow cytometry was used for the counts of IFNgamma(+)CD4(+) cell (Th1), IL4(+)CD4(+) cell (Th2), IFNgamma(+)CD8(+) cell (Tc1), and IL4(+)CD8(+) cell (Tc2), and for the analysis of expression of CD3zeta chain in T cell subsets. The results showed that CD8(+) cells increased significantly in MDS patients; there was no significant difference between Th1/Th2, Tc1/Tc2 ratios of T cell subsets and normal control; CD3zeta chain, the functional protein in the signal transduction pathway of T cell, was over expressed in the CD8(+) cell. In conclusion, research indicates that abnormal changes of T cell subgroups exist in peripheral blood of MDS patients. Enhancement of CD8(+) cells and over-expression of CD3zeta chain are important features, which suggest that CD8(+) cells play the most critical role in the pathologic process as compared with other T cell subsets. The over active immunity mediated by T cell subset may be one of the major mechanisms resulting in cytopenia in MDS.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; CD3 Complex ; biosynthesis ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Count ; Male ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; immunology ; metabolism ; pathology ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology ; metabolism ; pathology

Most of thyroid lymphomas are B-lineage, and T-cell lymphomas are rare. Here, we report a case of primary thyroid T-cell lymphoma associated with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. A 48-yr-old woman presented with incidentally found neck mass. Histologically, the resected right lobe of the thyroid was replaced by monomorphic small atypical lymphoid cells with lymphoepithelial lesion-like change, most of which were immunoreactive for CD3, CD8, betaF-1, and TIA-1. Peripheral T-cell lymphoma, unspecified, was finally diagnosed after molecular study for TCR-gamma gene rearrangement. This is the second case of cytotoxic T-cell lymphoma reported in the thyroid gland so far. Unique association between thyroid follicles and neoplastic lymphocytes may be characteristic feature of this type of T-cell lymphoma.
Female ; Hashimoto Disease/*pathology ; Humans ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone/*pathology ; Lymphoma, T-Cell/*pathology ; Middle Aged ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets/immunology/pathology ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/immunology/pathology ; Thyroid Gland/*pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the relation of tumor interstitial T lymphocyte subset activity to the clinical staging of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the immune response.

METHODSImmunohistochemical staining for CD4(+), CD8(+) and CD4(+)CD25(+) Foxp3(+) (regulatory T cells, Treg) T cells was performed on paraffin-embedded tissues from 60 NSCLC cases.

RESULTSCompared to stage I/II NSCLC patients, patients in stage III/IV showed a significant decrease in the percentage of CD4(+) and CD4(+)/CD8(+) T cells (P<0.05) and an increase in CD8(+) and CD4(+)CD25(+) Foxp3(+) T cells (P<0.05). Treg cells were enriched in the tumor tissue as compared with those in the adjacent tissues.

CONCLUSIONSThe proportion of CD4(+)CD25(+) Foxp3(+) Treg cells is positively correlated to the clinical staging of NSCLC, in which T cell-mediated immune response is suppressed.

Aged ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; immunology ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; immunology ; Lung Neoplasms ; immunology ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo study the lymphocyte subsets of sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) in breast cancer patients.

METHODSFlow cytometry was used to analyze the markers on the surface of lymphocytes such as CD3, CD4, CD8, CD16 and CD19 in the sentinel lymph node of breast cancer.

RESULTSWhen lymph node metastasis did not occur, there was no significant difference in the number of CD3(+) T, CD4(+) T, CD8(+) T, CD16 NK and CD19 B cells between SLN cells and non-SLN cells. With lymph node metastasis, the proportion of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells was significantly changed, CD8(+) T cells (66.15 +/- 5.97) were the predominant cells instead of CD4(+) T cells (69.07 +/- 5.02), whereas no significant difference in CD3(+) T, CD16 NK and CD19 B cells.

CONCLUSIONThe CD4(+) to CD8(+) T cell ratio in sentinel lymph nodes with metastasis is reversed in breast cancer patients. This might results from changes in microenvironment due to tumor cell invasion.

Breast Neoplasms ; immunology ; pathology ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; pathology ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; immunology ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology ; Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy