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[Influencing factors for lymphocyte subsets in children aged 0-6 years]
Rui Chen1, Xiu-Fa Zhang, Tian-Xiang Zhou
1Department of Neonatology, Shenzhen Bao'an Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518133, China. maliya226@qq.com.
Insights
Age significantly impacts lymphocyte subsets in children under six. Delivery method also influences newborns. Establishing age-specific reference ranges for lymphocyte subsets is crucial.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pediatrics
- Flow Cytometry
Context:
- Understanding lymphocyte subset development is vital for pediatric health.
- Factors influencing immune cell populations in early life require investigation.
Purpose:
- To determine the impact of age, sex, and delivery method on lymphocyte subsets in children aged 0-6 years.
Summary:
- Age significantly affects most lymphocyte subsets (T cells, B cells, NK cells) in children up to 6 years.
- Delivery method (vaginal vs. Cesarean section) influences specific lymphocyte subsets in newborns.
- No significant sex-based differences in lymphocyte subsets were observed in healthy children.
Impact:
- Highlights the critical role of age in pediatric immune system maturation.
- Suggests the need for age-specific reference ranges for lymphocyte subsets in children.
- Informs clinical assessments and understanding of immune development in early childhood.
Objective:
To investigate the influencing factors for lymphocyte subsets in children 0 to 6 years of age.
Methods:
Umbilical artery blood samples from 45 healthy full-term infants and venous blood samples from 79 healthy children between 0 and 6 years were collected. According to the methods of delivery, the full-term infants were divided into vaginal delivery group (n=22) and cesarean section group (n=23). Healthy children were divided into different age groups: 28 days to 12 months (n=25), 1-3 years (n=26), and 3-6 years (n=28). Lymphocyte subsets were examined by flow cytometry. The influencing factors including delivery method, sex, and age, which might have an effect on the lymphocyte subsets, were analyzed.
Results:
There were significant differences in T and Ts cell counts, percentage of B cells, and percentage and count of natural killer (NK) cells between the full-term infants of vaginal delivery and cesarean section (P<0.05). The absolute counts and percentages of different lymphocyte subsets showed no significant differences between males and females in healthy children (P>0.05). The counts of all lymphocyte subsets except Ts and NK cells varied significantly between different age groups (P<0.05).
Conclusions:
Lymphocyte subsets in children under 6 years of age are more profoundly affected by age. Delivery method is also a contributing factor in newborn infants. The reference range of lymphocyte subsets in children should be established for different age groups.
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