Characteristics and reference ranges of CD4+T cell subpopulations among healthy adult Han Chinese in Shanxi Province, North China

Abstract

Background: Immunophenotyping of blood lymphocytes is an essential tool to evaluate the immune function of patients with immunodeficiency or autoimmunity. Predominately identified CD4 + T cell subsets, Th1, Th2, Th17, as well as regulatory T (Treg) cells, play crucial roles in several immunological and pathological conditions. Considering the variations in cell counts among populations and ethnicities, specific CD4 + T cell subset reference values need to be locally established to enable meaningful comparisons and accurate data interpretation in clinical and research settings. Therefore, the aim of this study was to establish distributions and reference ranges for blood CD4 + T cell subpopulations in age-and sex-balanced healthy adults of a Han Chinese population in Shanxi Province, North China. Methods: Peripheral blood CD4 + T cell subsets were examined in 150 healthy volunteers (75 males, 75 females) aged 20-70 years with a four-color FACSCalibur flow cytometer. Results: Reference value percentages (absolute counts, cells/μl) were defined as 95% of the population for cell types as follows: CD4 +

Reference ranges of T lymphocyte subsets by single-platform among healthy population in southwest China

“…Qin L et al [ 19 ] found that the correlation coefficients between CD3 + T cell count (cells/ul), CD3 + CD4 + T cell count (cells/ul), CD3 + CD8 + T cell count (cells/ul) and age were − 0.103, − 0.175, − 0.154. Our results are similar with Niu HQ et al [ 21 ] and Qin L et al [ 19 ] but slightly different from Tang GX et al [ 20 ]. The percent of CD3 + T cell, CD3 + CD8 + T cell and the numbers of CD3 + T cell count (cells/ul), CD3 + CD4 + T cell count (cells/ul), CD3 + CD8 + T cell count (cells/ul) were all weak negatively correlated with age in both male and female ( P < 0.01), while the percent of CD3 + CD4 + T cell was weak positively correlated with age in male but weak negatively in female ( P < 0.01).…”

“…The 2.5% to 97.5% reference ranges of percentages (absolute counts, cells/μl) CD3 + T cells, CD3 + CD4 + T cells, CD3 + CD8 + T cells in Tang GX et al 's research [ 20 ] and Qin L et al 's research [ 19 ] are shown in Additional file 1 : Table S1. Our results are similar with Niu HQ et al [ 21 ] and Tang GX et al [ 20 ] but slightly different from Qin L et al [ 19 ]. The discrepancy may be explained by different sample size, indirect method we used to establish reference value and the variance of ethnic groups.…”

“…The older the age, the lower the absolute count of T lymphocyte subsets in both male and female, which is in consistent with Tang GX et al's research [ 20 ]. Niu HQ et al [ 21 ] reported that the 2.5% to 97.5% reference range of percentages (absolute counts, cells/μl) CD3 + CD4 + T cells in 150 healthy volunteers aged 20–70 years was 23.78%–51.07% (360–1127) in Shanxi Province, North China. The 2.5% to 97.5% reference ranges of percentages (absolute counts, cells/μl) CD3 + T cells, CD3 + CD4 + T cells, CD3 + CD8 + T cells in Tang GX et al 's research [ 20 ] and Qin L et al 's research [ 19 ] are shown in Additional file 1 : Table S1.…”

“…In our study, the correlation coefficients between CD3 + T cell (%), CD3 + CD4 + T cell (%), CD3 + CD8 + T cell (%), CD3 + T cell count (cells/ul), CD3 + CD4 + T cell count (cells/ul), CD3 + CD8 + T cell count (cells/ul) and age were − 0.150, 0.036, − 0.174, − 0.208, − 0.110, − 0.234 in male and − 0.241, − 0.015, − 0.185, − 0.161, − 0.071, − 0.189 in female. According to Niu HQ et al [ 21 ], the correlation coefficients between CD3 + CD4 + T cell (%) and age is 0.294. Tang GX et al [ 20 ] reported the correlation coefficients between CD3 + T cell (%), CD3 + CD4 + T cell (%), CD3 + CD8 + T cell (%), CD3 + T cell count (cells/ul), CD3 + CD4 + T cell count (cells/ul), CD3 + CD8 + T cell count (cells/ul) and age were − 0.318, 0.129, − 0.391, − 0.656, − 0.555, − 0.624 without regard to gender.…”

“…An external quality control procedure was also completed through participation in a performance assessment conducted by the Clinical Inspection Center of the National Health Commission in China. The original source of cell preparation, staining, and flow cytometry were mainly cited from Niu HQ et al [ 21 ].…”