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Updated: Jul 6, 2026
Isolation of Precursor B-cell Subsets from Umbilical Cord Blood
Published on: April 16, 2013
Flow cytometric analysis of canine umbilical cord blood lymphocytes
Isao Otani1, Kohei Ohta, Akira Ishikawa
1Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan. otani@brs.nihon-u.ac.jp
Insights
Canine umbilical cord blood shows distinct lymphocyte profiles compared to adult dogs. Specifically, it has a lower T lymphocyte to B lymphocyte ratio but a higher CD4+ to CD8+ T lymphocyte ratio.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Veterinary Science
- Comparative Hematology
Background:
- Understanding canine lymphocyte populations is crucial for neonatal immunology and transplantation research.
- Canine umbilical cord blood (CUCB) represents a valuable source of neonatal immune cells.
- Limited data exists on the specific phenotypic characteristics of CUCB lymphocytes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize lymphocyte subsets in CUCB.
- To compare CUCB lymphocyte profiles with those of adult dogs (dams).
- To elucidate the phenotypic differences in canine neonatal and adult blood lymphocytes.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometry was utilized for quantitative analysis of lymphocyte subsets.
- Peripheral blood from dams and umbilical cord blood from their neonates were analyzed.
- Key lymphocyte populations including CD3+ T cells, CD21+ B cells, and CD4+/CD8+ subsets were quantified.
Main Results:
- CUCB exhibited a significantly lower T lymphocyte/B lymphocyte ratio (2.1) compared to dams (11.0).
- The CD4+ lymphocyte/CD8+ lymphocyte ratio was significantly higher in CUCB (7.6) versus dams (1.8).
- Specific proportions were identified: 52.9% CD3+ T cells, 30.4% CD21+ B cells, and 16.7% non-T non-B cells in CUCB.
Conclusions:
- Canine umbilical cord blood possesses a unique lymphocyte subset distribution compared to adult peripheral blood.
- These findings provide essential reference data for canine neonatal immunology.
- The distinct ratios highlight developmental differences in the canine immune system from birth.
Abstract:
Lymphocyte subsets in canine umbilical cord blood were flow cytometrically analyzed and compared with those of the dams' peripheral blood. The proportion of CD3+ T lymphocytes, CD21+CD3- B lymphocytes, and CD3-CD21- non-T non-B lymphocytes in umbilical cord blood was 52.9%, 30.4%, and 16.7%, respectively. T lymphocyte/B lymphocyte ratio was significantly lower in the umbilical cord blood than in the dams' peripheral blood (2.1 +/- 1.4 versus 11.0 +/- 8.1, P < 0.001). In contrast, CD4+ lymphocyte/CD8+ lymphocyte ratio was significantly higher in the umbilical cord blood than in the dams' peripheral blood (7.6 +/- 2.2 versus 1.8 +/- 0.6, P<0.001). These findings clarified the phenotypic characters of canine umbilical cord blood lymphocytes.
