Reference values of lymphocyte subsets in healthy, HIV-negative children in Cameroon

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Pediatrics
• Hematology

Background:

• Accurate lymphocyte subset reference values are crucial for monitoring infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria in children.
• Existing reference values, often derived from Caucasian cohorts, may not be appropriate for African populations, potentially leading to misdiagnosis.
• There is a lack of established pediatric lymphocyte subset reference ranges for Cameroon.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the immunological profile of healthy children aged 0-6 years in Cameroon.
• To compare these values with those from other African and Caucasian populations.
• To provide initial reference guidelines for clinical use in Cameroon.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 352 healthy children aged 0-6 years in Cameroon was studied.
• Peripheral blood samples were analyzed for relative and absolute counts of T-cell subsets, B cells, and NK lymphocytes.
• Flow cytometry was used with BD Multitest reagents and Trucount tubes, analyzed via CellQuest-Pro and FlowJo software.

Main Results:

• Significant age-dependent differences (P < 0.05) were observed in absolute and percentage values of approximately 23 lymphocyte subsets, peaking between 6-12 months.
• B-cell values were higher than those reported in developed countries.
• Differences in activated and differentiated T cells were noted in children aged 1-6 years, with CD8(+) T-cell count and CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio potentially influenced by gender.

Conclusions:

• Normal lymphocyte subset values in Cameroonian children differ significantly from Caucasian and some other African populations.
• Observed variations may be attributed to genetic, environmental, and methodological factors.
• The established values serve as initial national reference guidelines pending further data accumulation.