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Phenotype of apoptotic lymphocytes in children with Down syndrome

Solaf M Elsayed1, Ghada M Elsayed

  • 1Genetics Unit, Pediatrics Department, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. elsayed683@yahoo.com

Immunity & Ageing : I & A
|March 10, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Children with Down syndrome (DS) exhibit increased early apoptotic T and B lymphocytes, indicating impaired immune cell function rather than number. This finding highlights a key mechanism behind the immunodeficiency observed in DS.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Genetics
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Down syndrome (DS) is a common chromosomal disorder linked to immunodeficiency, increasing infection susceptibility.
  • Increased apoptotic cells are a proposed mechanism for immune dysfunction in DS.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of apoptosis on T and B lymphocytes in children with DS.
  • To use Annexin V staining to detect early apoptotic cells as a marker.

Main Methods:

  • Studied 17 children with DS and 17 healthy controls, excluding those with infections.
  • Utilized Annexin V staining to analyze apoptosis in T and B lymphocytes.
  • Performed immunophenotyping and complete blood counts.

Main Results:

  • DS children showed significantly higher relative and absolute numbers of apoptotic CD(3+) T lymphocytes compared to controls.
  • A higher relative number of apoptotic CD(19+) B lymphocytes was observed in DS children.
  • No significant difference in the absolute number of CD(19+) B lymphocytes was found.

Conclusions:

  • Increased early apoptosis, particularly in T cells, suggests impaired immune cell function is central to DS immunodeficiency.
  • Cellular immunity appears more compromised than humoral immunity in individuals with DS.
  • Further research on apoptotic phenotypes in larger DS cohorts is warranted.
Abstract

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