[Study on the expression of T, B lymphocyte antigen and platelet antibodies in patients with platelet transfusion...

To explore whether T lymphocytes subgroup, B lymphocytes, platelet antigen CD41a, CD61 or platelet antibodies are involved in the platelet transfusion refractoriness.

Forty-seven patients diagnosed as platelet transfusion refractoriness and 32 patients that achieved effective platelet therapy were ennolled in this study. Flow cytometry was performed to detect the proportion of cytotoxic T cell (CD3(+)CD4(-)CD8(+)), helper T cell (CD3(+)CD4(+)CD8(-)) and B lymphocytes (CD19 (+) ), and the expression of platelet glycoproteins, including CD41a and CD61, while platelet antibodies were also measured by solid-phase agglutination.

The significant lower level of helper T cell (36.60% vs 48.53%), higher level of cytotoxic T cell (53.26% vs 44.02%) and lower cytotoxic/helper T cell ratio (0.85 vs 1.31) were observed in platelet refractoriness group when compared with effective platelet therapy group (P<0.05). However, the significant difference was not observed in B lymphocytes between the two group (3.02% vs 2.85%, P>0.05). Platelet glycoproteins CD41a and CD61 and antibodies were both expressed at high levels in platelet refractoriness group (88.10% vs 51.69%, 88.36% vs 51.83%, 85.37% vs 14.82%, respectively, P<0.05).

Activation of cytotoxic T cells, suppression of helper T cells, higher expression level of platelet glycoproteins CD41a and CD61 as well as the development of anti-platelet antibodies are involved in the immunologic mechanism of platelet refractoriness.