Two-color immunofluorescence and flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in Caucasian and Japanese healthy subjects.

Journal article

Two-color immunofluorescence using multiparameter flow cytometry was employed to examine the antigenic characteristics of peripheral blood lymphocytes in whole blood of healthy Caucasians and Japanese. The CD4/CD8 ratio in Japanese was significantly decreased compared with that in Caucasians, because of the increased number of CD8+ cells. Although the proportions of suppressor-inducer T cells (CD4+, Leu-8+) and helper-inducer T cells (naive T cells) (CD4+, CD45RA-) were low in Japanese subjects, there were no differences in the absolute numbers of suppressor-inducer T cells and helper-inducer T cells (naive T cells) in circulation. The level of activated T cells in Japanese was similar to that in Caucasians. NK cells, CD57+, CD8+ cells and CD57+, CD3+ cells were high in Japanese. Regarding B cell subsets, CD5+ B cells and activated B cells remained unchanged. However, there were slight differences in Leu-8+ B cells and Fc epsilon R+ B cells (CD20+, CD23+) between the two groups. Thus, a differing influence of racial and environmental background between healthy Caucasians and healthy Japanese on human lymphocyte subsets is present in the lymphocyte immunophenotype.

Authors: Senju, M; Makiyama, K; Hara, K; Hulstaert, F; Lowder, J

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Japanese journal of medicine
• Volume: 30
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 509-515
• Publication date: 1991-11-01
• DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine1962.30.509
• EISSN: 1881-123X
• ISSN: 0021-5120
• Language: English
• Keywords: Adult; European Continental Ancestry Group; Flow Cytometry; Asian Continental Ancestry Group; Male; Japan; Lymphocyte Subsets; Humans; Female; Middle Aged; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; CD4-CD8 Ratio; Antigens, Differentiation