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Updated: Jun 10, 2026
14:06
Isolation of Precursor B-cell Subsets from Umbilical Cord Blood
Published on: April 16, 2013
Age-related trends in pediatric B-cell subsets
Eline T Luning Prak1, Jacqueline Ross, Jennifer Sutter
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Summary
Pediatric B-cell subsets change rapidly in early life, with total B-cell numbers declining after age one. These findings highlight unique developmental windows and the need for age-specific immunologic assessments in children.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Limited data exists on pediatric B-cell subset development.
- Adult B-cell subset alterations have diagnostic and functional implications.
- Age-related changes and lack of normative data hinder pediatric B-cell studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate B-cell subset development in children.
- To establish normative data for pediatric B-cell subsets.
- To identify age-specific changes in the B-cell compartment.
Main Methods:
- Utilized 4-color flow cytometry for B-cell subset analysis.
- Studied 47 children across various age groups.
- Focused on transitional, naive, and memory B-cell populations.
Main Results:
- Significant B-cell compartment changes occur in infancy and early childhood.
- Total B-cell numbers decline after one year, most rapidly between ages 1-5.
- Transitional and naive B cells decrease, while memory B cells increase during the first five years.
Conclusions:
- Early life represents a unique developmental window for B-cell immunity.
- Age-related assessments are crucial for understanding pediatric B-cell dynamics.
- Provides reference data for pediatric B-cell dysfunction studies.
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