Reference values for peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in a healthy korean population

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Hematology
• Clinical Pathology

Background:

• Flow cytometric immunophenotyping is crucial for assessing cellular immunity and immune-mediated diseases.
• Lymphocyte subset counts are influenced by demographic and lifestyle factors.
• Establishing population-specific reference ranges is essential for accurate clinical interpretation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine reference ranges for peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in a healthy Korean population.
• To investigate the influence of demographic factors on lymphocyte subset distribution.
• To provide a basis for region-specific clinical assessments in Korea.

Main Methods:

• Collected blood samples from 294 healthy Korean adults.
• Utilized a single-platform flow cytometer for lymphocyte subset analysis.
• Employed an automated hematology analyzer for white blood cell and lymphocyte counts.

Main Results:

• Established mean values for white blood cell count and lymphocyte subsets, including CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD19+, and CD56+ cells.
• Reported a mean CD4+/CD8+ ratio of 1.81.
• Found that gender and age significantly affected blood lymphocyte subset counts.

Conclusions:

• Healthy Korean adults exhibit distinct, region-specific reference ranges for blood lymphocyte subsets.
• These findings underscore the importance of considering demographic factors for accurate interpretation of flow cytometry data.
• The established ranges can aid in the diagnosis and monitoring of immune-related conditions in the Korean population.