Reference ranges for lymphocyte subsets in healthy adult male Omanis

To determine the reference ranges of lymphocyte subsets in serologically HIV-seronegative healthy male adults in Oman. A cohort, of 118 healthy male blood donors ranging in age from 18-51 years, was included in the study. The average age was 25 years. Blood samples collected into tubes containing ethylene-diamine-tetra acetic acid were investigated for lymphocyte subsets using flow cytometer. This study was conducted in the Immunology Laboratory of the Sultan Qaboos University, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Muscat, Oman during the year 2006. For the 118 males investigated, the mean percentage and absolute values of the lymphocyte subsets were as follows: CD3: 68.53 +/- 7.5%, 1701 +/- 489 cells/microliter; CD4: 40.4 +/- 6.5%, 1006 +/- 319 cells/microliter; CD8: 25.8 +/- 5.9%, 638 +/- 225 cells/microliter; CD19: 13.7 +/- 4.7%, 349 +/- 158 cells/microliter, and CD56: 12.2 +/- 6.7%, 308 +/- 204 cells/microliter. The ratio of CD4/CD8 was 1.6. Immunophenotyping has been used to establish reference values of lymphocyte subsets in normal healthy adult males in Oman. The Omani male reference values obtained in this study show wide variations compared with kits values previously used as a reference

Rheumatoid arthritis cytokines and hypoxia. What is the link?

Rheumatoid arthritis [RA] is a chronic systemic inflammatory disorder that affects approximately 1% of the population, in a female to male ratio of 3:1. The disease can occur at any age, but it is most common among those aged 40-70 years. Despite many years of study, the etiology of RA is still undefined. However, with increased understanding of the immune system the pathogenesis of RA has become clearer. A large bulk of data suggests that T lymphocytes and macrophages play a critical role in the initiation and perpetuation of synovial inflammation. Recently, the cytokine profile of T helper cells has been associated with the disease, the cytokine repertoire of inflamed synovia is categorized as that of T helper 1 response. Moreover, in RA elevated levels of pro-inflammatory or inflammatory cytokines such as Tumor Necrosis Factor - alpha [TNF-alpha] and Interleukin -1 beta [IL-1beta] have been detected. Hypoxia up-regulates TNF-alpha and IL-1beta; therefore, considerable research interest has been focused on the biological consequences of the hypoxic nature of the rheumatoid synovium. Hypoxia might underlie the functional polarization of the T cells and cytokine production, and thus may contribute to the progression and persistence of the disease. In this short review, we discuss our current knowledge of the link between cytokines and RA and the role of hypoxia in the pathogenesis of the disease