ABSTRACT
Purpose@#We investigated the association of effector memory (EM) CD8 + T cell and CD4 + T cell immunity with metabolic syndrome (MS). @*Methods@#Surface and intracellular staining of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was performed. Anti-interleukin-7 receptor-alpha (IL-7Rα) and CX3CR1 antibodies were used to stain the subsets of EM CD8 + T cells, while anti-interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-17 (IL-17), and forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) antibodies were used for CD4 + T cell subsets. @*Results@#Of the 47 obese children, 11 were female. Children with MS had significantly higher levels of serum insulin (34.8±13.8 vs. 16.4±6.3 μU/mL, p<0.001) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (8.9±4.1 vs. 3.9±1.5, p<0.001) than children without MS.Children with MS revealed significantly higher frequencies of IL-7Rα low CD8+ T cells (60.1 ±19.1% vs. 48.4±11.5%, p=0.047) and IL-7Rα low CX3CR1 + CD8 + T cells (53.8±20.1% vs. 41.5 ±11.9%, p=0.036) than children without MS. As the serum triglyceride levels increased, the frequency of IL-7Rα low CX3CR1 + and IL-7Rα high CX3CR1 – CD8 + T cells increased and decreased, respectively (r=0.335, p=0.014 and r=−0.350, p=0.010, respectively), in 47 children. However, no CD4 + T cell subset parameters were significantly different between children with and without MS. @*Conclusion@#In obese children with MS, the changes in immunity due to changes in EM CD8 + T cells might be related to the morbidity of obesity.
ABSTRACT
Purpose@#We investigated the association of effector memory (EM) CD8 + T cell and CD4 + T cell immunity with metabolic syndrome (MS). @*Methods@#Surface and intracellular staining of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was performed. Anti-interleukin-7 receptor-alpha (IL-7Rα) and CX3CR1 antibodies were used to stain the subsets of EM CD8 + T cells, while anti-interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-17 (IL-17), and forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) antibodies were used for CD4 + T cell subsets. @*Results@#Of the 47 obese children, 11 were female. Children with MS had significantly higher levels of serum insulin (34.8±13.8 vs. 16.4±6.3 μU/mL, p<0.001) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (8.9±4.1 vs. 3.9±1.5, p<0.001) than children without MS.Children with MS revealed significantly higher frequencies of IL-7Rα low CD8+ T cells (60.1 ±19.1% vs. 48.4±11.5%, p=0.047) and IL-7Rα low CX3CR1 + CD8 + T cells (53.8±20.1% vs. 41.5 ±11.9%, p=0.036) than children without MS. As the serum triglyceride levels increased, the frequency of IL-7Rα low CX3CR1 + and IL-7Rα high CX3CR1 – CD8 + T cells increased and decreased, respectively (r=0.335, p=0.014 and r=−0.350, p=0.010, respectively), in 47 children. However, no CD4 + T cell subset parameters were significantly different between children with and without MS. @*Conclusion@#In obese children with MS, the changes in immunity due to changes in EM CD8 + T cells might be related to the morbidity of obesity.
ABSTRACT
T cells are an essential cellular component of the immune system. When T cells encounter antigen and receive co-stimulatory signals, they become activated, proliferate and produce cytokines. Flow cytometry is a valuable research tool in analyzing T cell functions including proliferation, survival and cytotoxicity as well as cytokine production and cell signaling. This article has reviewed the utility of flow cytometry in evaluating T cell functions.
Subject(s)
Cytokines , Flow Cytometry , Immune System , T-LymphocytesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Alterations in the immune system occur with aging, and these contribute to an increased risk of infection and malignancy. The age-associated changes in T cell immunity range from single cell function to the maintenance of cell populations. We investigated the kinetics of CD4+ T cell activation and proliferation in young and elderly subjects after stimulating their peripheral blood mononuclear cells with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies (Abs). METHODS: The expressions of the activation markers CD69, CD40L and CD25 on the CD4+ T cells from young (n=14) and elderly (n=19) were analyzed at 6, 24 and 48 hours (hrs) of T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation by using flow cytometry. In the same individuals, the CD4+ T cell proliferation was determined at 48 and 96 hrs of TCR stimulation by using the CFSE dilution method. RESULTS: The elderly had decreased CD69 and CD40L expressions on the CD4+ T cells at 6 hrs of stimulation, as compared to that of the young patients. The elderly also had a decreased CD25 expression on the CD4+ T cells at 24 hrs of stimulation. However, the two groups had similar levels of the CD25, CD69 and CD40L expressions at 48 hrs of stimulation. The elderly had decreased CD4+ T cell proliferation at 96 hrs of stimulation, as compared to that of the young, although both groups had similar levels of CD4+ T cell proliferation at 48 hrs of stimulation. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the elderly have altered kinetics of CD4+ T cell activation and proliferation in response to anti-CD3 and -CD28 Ab stimulation, and that such an altered response is governed by the duration of stimulation.