Values for αβ and γδ T-lymphocytes and CD4+, CD8+, and CD56+ subsets in healthy adult subjects: assessment by age and gender.

Background: Normal reference values in healthy subjects for T-lymphocytes for both types of receptors, αβ and γδ, and their subsets are yet to be defined. The aim of this study was to measure peripheral blood αβ and γδ 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 CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD56+, αβCD3+, αβCD3+CD4+, αβCD3+CD8+, αβCD3+CD56+, γδCD3+, γδCD3+CD4-CD8-, γδCD3+CD8+, and γδCD3+CD56+ T-cells by flow cytometry. The T-cell subsets were compared for different age and gender groups.

Results: A significant decrease in CD3+, CD3+CD4+, CD3+CD4+ αβ, and CD3+ γδ T-cells was observed in elderly subjects. CD3+, CD3+ αβ, and CD3+CD4+ αβ T-cells increased in women, while CD3+CD56+ αβ T-cells increased in men. CONCLUSIONS.: These reference values could be useful in further research studies for assessing changes that occur in the different αβ and γδ T subsets in human pathology.