Background: Normal reference values in healthy subjects for T-lymphocytes for both types of receptors, ab and cd, and their subsets are yet to be defined. The aim of this study was to measure peripheral blood ab and cd total T-lymphocytes and their subsets in a population of healthy subjects, in order to obtain valid reference values for studies in human pathology.Methods: We studied a total of 157 healthy subjects, 78 men and 79 women, establishing their levels of CD31, CD41, CD81, CD561, abCD31, abCD31CD41, abCD31CD81, abCD31CD561, cdCD31, cdCD31CD42CD82, cdCD31CD81, and cdCD31CD561 T-cells by flow cytometry. The T-cell subsets were compared for different age and gender groups.Results: A significant decrease in CD31, CD31CD41, CD31CD41 ab, and CD31 cd T-cells was observed in elderly subjects. CD31, CD31 ab, and CD31CD41 ab T-cells increased in women, while CD31CD561 ab T-cells increased in men.Conclusions. These reference values could be useful in further research studies for assessing changes that occur in the different ab and cd T subsets in human pathology. V C 2012 International Clinical Cytometry Society

i Gamma-delta T cells are the most abundant of all epithelial-resident lymphocytes and are considered a first line of defense against pathogens in the mucosa. Our objective was to confirm the reduction in ␥␦ T cell subsets and its relationship with mortality in patients with sepsis. We studied 135 patients with sepsis attended in the emergency department and intensive care unit of two hospitals and compared them with a similar control group of healthy subjects. The ␣␤ and ␥␦ T cell subsets were determined via flow cytometry according to the stage of the sepsis and its relationship with mortality. All the lymphocyte subsets were reduced with respect to the corresponding subsets in the control group. All the ␥␦ T cell populations decreased significantly as the septic picture worsened. Furthermore, ␥␦ T cells showed decreases at days 2, 3, and 4 from the start of sepsis. Twenty-six patients with sepsis died (19.3%). The ␥␦ T cells, specifically, the CD3 ؉ CD56 ؉ ␥␦ T cells, were significantly reduced in those septic patients who died. Our results indicate that, during sepsis, ␥␦ T cells show the largest decrease and this reduction becomes more intense when the septic process becomes more severe. Mortality was associated with a significant decrease in ␥␦ T cells.

BackgroundMore than 50% of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes present cytogenetic aberrations at diagnosis. Partial or complete deletion of the long arm of chromosome 5 is the most frequent abnormality. The aim of this study was to apply fluorescence in situ hybridization of 5q31 in patients diagnosed with de novo myelodysplastic syndromes in whom conventional banding cytogenetics study had shown a normal karyotype, absence of metaphases or an abnormal karyotype without evidence of del(5q). Design and MethodsWe performed fluorescence in situ hybridization of 5q31 in 716 patients, divided into two groups: group A patients (n=637) in whom the 5q deletion had not been detected at diagnosis by conventional banding cytogenetics and group B patients (n=79), in whom cytogenetic analysis had revealed the 5q deletion (positive control group). ResultsIn group A (n=637), the 5q deletion was detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization in 38 cases (5.96%). The majority of positive cases were diagnosed as having the 5q-syndrome. The deletion was mainly observed in cases in which the cytogenetics study had shown no metaphases or an aberrant karyotype with chromosome 5 involved. In group B (n=79), the 5q deletion had been observed by cytogenetics and was confirmed to be present in all cases by fluorescence in situ hybridization of 5q31. ConclusionsFluorescence in situ hybridization of 5q31 detected the 5q deletion in 6% of cases without clear evidence of del(5q) by conventional banding cytogenetics. We suggest that fluorescence in situ hybridization of 5q31 should be performed in cases of a suspected '5q-syndrome' and/or if the cytogenetic study shows no metaphases or an aberrant karyotype with chromosome 5 involved (no 5q-chromosome).

BackgroundThe cause of Crohn's Disease (CD) remains unknown. Recently a decrease in the global lymphocyte population in the peripheral blood of CD patients has been reported. This decrease was more evident in γδ T lymphocytes, especially γδ CD8+T subsets. Furthermore, a decrease of IL-7 was also observed in these patients. We propose the hypothesis that microsporidia, an obligate intracellular opportunistic parasite recently related to fungi, in CD patients can take advantage of the lymphocytes and IL-7 deficits to proliferate and to contribute to the pathophysiology of this disease.Methods and FindingsIn this case-control study, serum samples were collected from 36 CD patients and from 36 healthy individuals (controls), IgE and IgG anti-Encephalitozoon antibodies were determined by ELISA; and forty-four intestinal tissue samples were analyzed through real time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), twenty CD patients, nine with others diseases and 15 healthy subjects.We observed that IgE anti-Encephalitozoon levels were significantly higher in patients with CD: 0.386(±0.256) vs control group, 0.201(±0.147), P<0.001. However, IgG anti-Encephalitozoon values were significantly lower in CD patients: 0.361(±0.256) vs control group, 0.876(±0.380), P<0.001. In the group of CD patients, 6/20 (30%) were positive by real time PCR for microsporidia and, all the patients of the control group were negative by real time PCR.ConclusionsThese results suggest that CD patients are a group at risk for microsporidiasis and, moreover that microsporidia may be involved as a possible etiologic factor of CD.

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