Are the reference values of B cell subpopulations used in adults for classification of common variable immunodeficiencies appropriate for children?

作者：Smet J; Mascart F^*; Schandene L

来源：Clinical Immunology, 2011, 138(3): 266-273.

DOI：10.1016/j.clim.2010.12.001

• B cell maturation
• CVID classifications
• Humoral immunodeficiencies

Detailed phenotypic characterization of B cell subpopulations is of utmost importance for the diagnosis and management of humoral immunodeficiencies, as they are used for classification of common variable immunodeficiencies. Since age-specific reference values remain scarce in the literature, we analysed by flow cytometry the proportions and absolute values of total, memory, switched memory and CD21(-/low) B cells in blood samples from 168 healthy children (1 day to 18 years) with special attention to the different subpopulations of CD21(low) B cells. The percentages of total memory B cells and their subsets significantly increased up to 5-10 years. In contrast, the percentages of immature CD21(-) B cells and of immature transitional CD21(low)CD38(hi) B cells decreased progressively with age, whereas the percentage of CD21(low) CD38(low) B cells remained stable during childhood. Our data stress the importance of age-specific reference values for the correct interpretation of B cell subsets in children as a diagnostic tool in immunodeficiencies.

• 出版日期2011-3