支原体肺炎患儿辅助性T淋巴细胞亚群TH1、TH2细胞状况

目的　探讨肺炎支原体肺炎急性期患儿外周血淋巴细胞亚群以及辅助性T淋巴细胞亚群TH1、TH2细胞的改变 ,为免疫治疗的可能性提供依据。方法　采用流式细胞仪技术 (FACS)检测了3 5例支原体肺炎急性期患儿外周血T淋巴细胞亚群以及NK细胞和B细胞 ,同时通过检测分泌细胞因子γ干扰素 (IFN γ)、白细胞介素 4(IL 4)的CD+ 4细胞方法 ,测出相应TH1、TH2细胞的百分比 ,并与2 8例正常儿童进行比较。同时对 3 5例支原体肺炎患儿中的 3 0例进行了血清免疫球蛋白及精制结核菌素 (PPD)皮肤试验。全部患儿均系在我院住院的患儿 ,男 15例 ,女 2 0例 ,年龄 3～ 13岁 ,平均 9岁。对照组男 14例 ,女 14例 ,年龄 3～ 12岁 ,平均 7岁。结果　支原体肺炎患儿急性期外周血CD+ 3 、CD+ 4T细胞百分率为 68 0 0± 6 66及 3 7 86± 5 84,较对照组 63 71± 7 92及 3 4 54± 6 2 3高 ,(P <0 0 5) ;患儿外周血TH1细胞百分率为 14 13± 8 46,对照组为 2 0 77± 6 89,两者差异有非常显著意义 (P =0 0 0 1)。NK细胞及TH1/TH2比值在患儿组降低 (P分别为 <0 0 1和 <0 0 5)。两组间CD8、TH2、B细胞百分率及CD4/CD8比值差异无显著意义。 3 0例患儿之血清免疫球蛋白与同龄正常儿童比较 ,IgG全部正常 ;IgA升高 7例 ;IgM升高 4例。皮肤P     

儿童急性淋巴细胞白血病化疗后T淋巴细胞重建的研究

目的观察急性淋巴细胞白血病儿童在化疗结束后T淋巴细胞亚群的变化,了解T淋巴细胞重建过程。方法采用流式细胞仪分析76名ALL治疗后停药不同阶段的儿童外周血T淋巴细胞亚群。结果CD3+HLA-DR+细胞、CD4+CD45RO-CD45RA-细胞百分率在停药后0~12月组高于对照组(P<0·05),CD3+CD4-CD8+、CD8+CD28-细胞百分率在停药后0~12月、12~24月24~48月组均高于对照组,CD3+CD8-CD4+、CD4+CD45RO-CD45RA+细胞的百分率、CD4/CD8值、CD45RA/CD45RO值在停药各个阶段与对照组相比明显降低(P<0·05)。结论化疗结束后,活化的T细胞可能在停药早期免疫系统的监视作用中起积极的作用,患儿的T淋巴细胞恢复需要较长的时间。CD4+CD45RO-CD45RA+、CD3+CD4+CD8-淋巴细胞的恢复最慢。     

RSV感染患儿外周血CD_4~*”CD_(45)RO~+CD_(45)RA~+表达变化的研究

目的：探讨下呼吸道感染呼吸道合胞病毒(RSV)患儿外周血辅助性T淋巴细胞(CD4),原始T细胞(CD45RA+),记忆性T细胞(CD45RO+)表达的变化。方法：用单克隆抗体免疫荧光标记,流式细胞仪检测30例RSV下呼吸道感染患儿急性期外周血单个核细胞(PBMCs)CD4+,CD45RA+细胞,其中11例同时检测CD45RO+细胞,同期检测9例年龄、性别无差异的健康儿为对照。结果：RSV下呼吸道感染组患儿CD4为(32.74±10.60)%,明显低于对照组(40.76±6.82)%,2组有显著性差异(P0.05)。结论：RSV感染急性期存在免疫功能紊乱,外周血CD4,CD45RO+下降,而CD45RA+明显增加,这可能是CD45RO+向呼吸道迁移的结果。     

病毒性肺炎淋巴细胞亚群、T淋巴细胞亚群状况研究

目的探讨病毒性肺炎急性期、恢复期外周血淋巴细胞亚群及辅助性T淋巴细胞亚群Th1、Th2百分率,血清免疫球蛋白改变,了解病毒性肺炎的免疫病理状况 方法 采集急性期(43例)、恢复期(18例)及正常对照组外周抗凝血,采用流式细胞仪检测T细胞、T辅助/诱导细胞亚群(CD4 )、T抑制/毒性细胞亚群(CD8 )、B细胞、自然杀伤(NK)细胞的百分数及CD4/CD8 值;同时检测CD4 细胞中Th1、Th2细胞百分比结果 患儿急性期、恢复期B细胞百分率及急性期Th1细胞百分率与对照组比较有显著差异(P<0.05)肺炎组Th1/Th2值较对照组显著增高(P<0.05),血清免疫球蛋白正常或稍高 结论 病毒性肺炎时外周血B细胞增加,体液免疫被激活;急性期Th1细胞百分率增加,Th1型细胞免疫反应性增强,随病情恢复百分率随之下降     

幼年特发性关节炎患儿外周血Th细胞亚群变化

目的探讨幼年特发性关节炎(JIA)患儿外周血CD4 T淋巴细胞及其亚群CD4 CD45RA 、CD4 CD45RO 的表达及其临床意义。方法采用免疫荧光标记技术和流式细胞仪检测36例JIA患儿外周血CD4 T淋巴细胞及其亚群CD4 CD45RA 、CD4 CD45RO 的表达,同期检测20例年龄、性别无差异的健康儿童为对照。结果JIA患儿外周血CD4 T淋巴细胞明显低于对照组(t=2.099,P<0.05),CD4 CD45RA T淋巴细胞数与对照组比较明显降低(t=3.450,P<0.01),CD4 CD45RO T淋巴细胞数明显升高(t=3.913,P<0.01),CD4 CD45RA T/CD4 CD45RO T比值明显降低(t=4.904,P<0.01);与对照组比较,JIA各亚型(全身型、多关节型、少关节型)的CD4 CD45RO T淋巴细胞数均明显升高,CD4 CD45RA T/CD4 CD45RO T比值明显降低(P<0.01);CD4 CD45RA T淋巴细胞数与正常对照组比较在全身型中显著降低(t=4.192,P<0.01);在多关节型中明显降低(t=2.214,P<0.05);在少关节型中稍有降低,但与对照组比较差异无显著性(t=1.793,P>0.05)。结论JIA患儿的免疫功能紊乱主要表现为CD4 T淋巴细胞及其亚群CD4 CD45RA T/CD4 CD45RO T失衡,这可能在JIA发病机制中起着重要的作用。     

幼年类风湿关节炎患儿血清白介素-15变化与T_H细胞亚群表达的研究

目的：探讨幼年类风湿关节炎(JRA)患儿血清白介素15变化及其TH细胞亚群CD4+CD45RA+,CD4+CD45RO+的表达变化。方法：采用ELISA方法检测39例JRA患儿的血清IL15的水平,并同期选择26例年龄、性别无差异的健康儿童为对照。对其中24例JRA患儿采用免疫荧光标记技术和流式细胞仪检测外周血CD4+T淋巴细胞亚群CD4+CD45RA+,CD4+CD45RO+的表达。结果：JRA患儿组血清IL15水平显著高于正常对照组(P<0.05);JRA常见亚型中全身型患儿血清IL15水平明显升高,与对照组比较差异有显著性(P<0.01),而少关节型、多关节型患儿IL15水平与对照组比较差异无显著性(P>0.05);治疗后IL15水平较治疗前明显下降(P<0.01);JRA患儿血清IL15水平与外周血白细胞计数呈正相关(r=0.347,P<0.05),与血沉无相关(r=0.307,P>0.05),与C反应蛋白呈显著正相关(r=0.452,P<0.01);IL15高表达组患儿外周血CD4+CD45RO+T淋巴细胞数明显高于IL15低表达组患儿(P<0.05),CD4+CD45RA+T淋巴细胞数、CD4+CD45RA+T/CD4+CD45RO+T比值略低于IL15低表达组患儿,差异无显著性(P>0.05)。结论：JRA患儿血清IL15的水平显著升高;IL15升高使JRA患儿外周血CD4+T细胞表面CD45RA分子向CD45RO分子转换,促使T淋巴细胞大量激活,进而介导组织免疫病理损伤;在临床上可通过检测IL15以判断JRA的病情状况,为JRA治疗提供理论依据。     

D4+T淋巴细胞表面CD4+CD45RA和CD4+CD45RO在支气管哮喘患儿外周血中的表达

目的 探讨CD4 CD45RA和CD4 CD45RO分子在支气管哮喘患儿中的表达及其意义.方法 分别收集支气管哮喘发作期28例、支气管哮喘缓解期27例、健康对照儿童20例抗凝静脉血100μL,采用异硫氰酸荧光素(FITC)标记的抗CD4单抗、藻红蛋白(PE)标记的抗CD45RA单抗和PE-菁蓝色素荧光素(PE-Cy5)标记的抗CD45RO单抗,流式细胞仪检测各组儿童外周血CD4T淋巴细胞表面CD45RA和CD45RO的表达.采用SPSS13.0软件进行统计学分析.结果 与健康对照和支气管哮喘缓解组患儿比较,支气管哮喘发作组患儿CD4 CD45RA T细胞明显减少(q=12.47,8.39 Pa<0.05),CD4 CD45RO T细胞显著升高(q=9.50,8.30 Pa<0.05),CD4 CD45RA /CD4 CD45RO 细胞比值显著降低(q=8.96,6.21 Pa<0.05);支气管哮喘缓解组患儿CD4 CD45RA T细胞较健康对照组明显升高(q=3.08 P<0.05),CD4 CD45RO T细胞及CD4 CD45RA /CD4 CD45RO 细胞比值与健康对照组比较差异无显著性(q=0.45,2.02 Pa>0.05).结论 外周血CD4 CD45RA 和CD4 CD45RO T淋巴细胞平衡失调可能参与支气管哮喘的发病.     

儿童急性淋巴细胞白血病化疗后免疫系统重建的研究

目的 观察急性淋巴细胞白血病(ALL)儿童在化疗结束后淋巴细胞亚群和免疫球蛋白的变化,了解化疗后免疫系统的恢复过程.方法 采用流式细胞仪分析76例ALL治疗后停药患儿的外周血淋巴细胞亚群,应用单向琼脂扩散法测定其中64例患儿血清IgA、IgG、IgM的浓度.结果 CD3 HLA-DR 细胞、CD4 CD45RO-CD45RA-细胞百分率在停药后0～12个月组高于对照组(P<0.05),CD3 CD4-CD8 、CD8 CD28-细胞百分率在停药后0～12个月、12～24个月、24～48个月组均高于对照组,CD3 CD8-CD4 、CD4 CD29-、CD4 D45RO-CD45RA 细胞的百分率、CD4/CD8比值、CD45RA/CD45RO比值在停药各个阶段与对照组相比明显降低(P<0.05).CD19 CD5 细胞的百分率在停药后0～12个月、12～24个月组高于对照组,IgG浓度停药0～12个月低于参考值(P<0.05).结论 化疗结束后,患儿的免疫系统恢复需要较长的时间.NK细胞在停药时即正常.B细胞在停药2年后已经基本恢复,T淋巴细胞的恢复最慢.     

CD+4T淋巴细胞在激素敏感型肾病综合征发病中的作用研究

目的　明确激素敏感型肾病综合征T淋巴细胞致病因子的亚群来源 ,探讨CD 4T淋巴细胞在本病发病中的作用。方法　采用间接免疫荧光染色法测定肾病综合征患儿外周血CD 4、CD 8T细胞百分率 ,以及CD 4/CD 8比值 ;磺柳酸比浊法测定经大鼠尾静脉注射抗体结合 补体介导溶解法分离的患儿CD 4和CD 8T淋巴细胞培养上清液后的大鼠尿蛋白含量 ,电镜观察其肾小球超微结构与基底膜上阴离子位点改变。结果　 (1)肾病综合征活动期患儿外周血CD 4T淋巴细胞百分率为(33 4± 2 4) % ,与正常儿童比较差异无显著性 (P >0 0 5 ) ;CD 8T淋巴细胞百分率为 (15 5±4 5 ) % ,比正常儿显著降低 (P <0 0 1) ;CD 4/CD 8比值为 (2 2± 0 3) % ,比正常儿显著升高(P <0 0 1)。(2 )注射患儿CD 4T淋巴细胞培养上清液后 ,大鼠尿蛋白排泌量在 0～ 8h时间段由注射前的 (3 9± 0 6 )mg/ 2 4h显著增加到 (13 1± 4 3)mg/ 2 4h(P <0 0 0 1)。注射患儿CD 8T淋巴细胞培养上清液后 ,大鼠尿蛋白排泌量无明显变化 (P >0 0 5 )。蛋白尿大鼠出现肾小球上皮细胞足突融合、基底膜上阴离子位点显著减少。结论　注射患儿CD 4T淋巴细胞培养上清液可使大鼠出现一过性蛋白尿 ;CD 4T淋巴细胞功能紊乱 ,分泌致病因子是激素敏感型肾病综合     

sCD40L、CD4~+CD45RA~+T细胞及CD4~+CD45RO~+T细胞在儿童ITP中的作用

目的探讨协同刺激分子可溶性CD40配体(sCD40L)及CD4+T辅助细胞CD45RA和CD45RO亚群在儿童特发性血小板减少性紫癜中的变化。方法用ELISA法检测25例ITP患儿血浆sCD40L水平;用微量全血流式细胞术法检测ITP患儿外周血CD4+T辅助细胞CD45RA和CD45RO的表达率;并对sCD40L与血小板计数进行相关分析。结果ITP患儿血浆sCD40L浓度明显升高,与对照组比较差异有显著性(P<0.05);CITP组血浆sCD40L浓度升高更为明显,与AITP组或对照组比较差异均有显著性(P<0.05)。ITP患儿CD4+CD45RA+T细胞表达率下降,CD4+CD45RO+T细胞表达率升高,差异均有显著性意义(P<0.05),而AITP和CITP之间差异无显著性(P>0.05)。血浆sCD40L与外周血小板计数无相关性(r=-0.047,P>0.05)。结论CD40L高表达导致的CD40L/CD40信号传导通路异常可能参与ITP发病;ITP患儿存在Th细胞亚群偏移,表现为Th1细胞减少,Th2细胞增多。     

Staphylococcus aureus skin colonization in atopic dermatitis children is associated with decreased IFN-gamma production by peripheral blood CD4+ and CD8+ T cells.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder, which is associated with an increased expression of Th2 cytokines with concomitant decrease in IFN-gamma production by circulating CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. The skin of patients with AD is often colonized by Staphylococcus aureus, which may reflect in changes in immunological parameters. The aim of the study was flow cytometric measurement of some peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets expressing naive/memory marker (RA/RO) and activation marker (CD25) as well as intracellular production of IFN-gamma by peripheral blood CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from varied severity AD children and determine the impact of S. aureus skin colonization on cytokines profiles. There was a significant increase in the percentage of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells producing IL-4 and IL-13 and decrease in the percentage of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells producing IFN-gamma upon in vitro stimulation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and ionomycin in children with AD compared to healthy ones. The absolute number of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells expressing memory marker CD45RO was elevated as compared with controls. The severity of AD was positively correlated with the percentage of lymphocyte subsets: CD45RO+, CD4+CD45RO+, and the percentage of CD3+ and CD4+ expressing CD25 as well as the number of S. aureus on the skin. In conclusion, both CD4+ and CD8+ memory T cells are involved in the immunopathogenesis of AD. S. aureus skin colonization is related with disease severity and changes in expression of CD45RO and CD25 on T cells. A decrease in the percentage of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells producing IFN-gamma in AD children may explain propensity for skin infection.     

T淋巴细胞亚群及过敏原与婴幼儿肺炎支原体感染伴喘息的关系

目的 分析肺炎支原体 （MP）感染伴喘息婴幼儿的T淋巴细胞亚群表达及过敏原筛查情况。方法 流式细胞仪检测354例MP感染伴喘息婴幼儿 （MP喘息组）、336例MP感染不伴喘息婴幼儿 （MP非喘息组）、277例反复喘息患儿 （反复喘息组）的外周血T淋巴细胞亚群表达,同时进行过敏原检测。结果 MP喘息组和反复喘息组的CD3+及CD3+CD8+淋巴细胞百分比均低于MP非喘息组 （P < 0.05）;MP喘息组和MP非喘息组的CD3+CD4+淋巴细胞百分比均高于反复喘息组 （P < 0.05）;MP喘息组和反复喘息组的CD3-CD19+及CD19+CD23+淋巴细胞百分比均明显高于MP非喘息组 （P < 0.05）,以反复喘息组最高 （P < 0.05）。食入性过敏原检测总阳性率 （30.3%）高于吸入性过敏原 （14.7%）,P < 0.05;反复喘息组、MP喘息组的食入性和吸入性过敏原阳性率均高于MP非喘息组,以反复喘息组最高 （P < 0.05）。结论 T淋巴细胞亚群紊乱、过敏体质在MP感染伴喘息的婴幼儿发病起着重要作用。     

Passive smoking alters circulating naïve/memory lymphocyte T‐cell subpopulations in children

Vardavas CI, Plada M, Tzatzarakis M, Marcos A, Warnberg J, Gomez‐Martinez S, Breidenassel C, Gonzalez‐Gross M, Tsatsakis AM, Saris WH., Moreno LA, Kafatos AG. Passive smoking alters circulating naïve/memory lymphocyte T‐cell subpopulations in children.
Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2010: 21: 1171–1178.
© 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S While it has been indicated that exposure to second‐hand smoke (SHS) can cause a local in vivo response, limited evidence exists on its possible systemic effects from population‐based levels of exposure. We investigated into a possible systemic response in the immune parameters and lymphocyte subsets, i.e. B cell (CD19+), T cell (CD4+CD45RO+, CD4+CD45RA+, CD3+CD45RO+, CD3+CD45RA+) and natural killer (CD3+CD16CD56+) lymphocyte subsets relative to exposure to SHS. Blood was drawn from healthy, verified non‐smoker, adolescent subjects (n = 68, mean age 14.2) and analysed for cotinine, antioxidants and lymphocyte immunophenotyping. SHS exposure was assessed using serum cotinine. Biomarker quantified exposure to SHS was correlated with a linear dose–response reduction in the percentages of memory CD4+CD45RO+ (p = 0.005) and CD3+CD45RO+ T‐cell subsets (p = 0.005 and p = 0.003, respectively) and a linear increase in the percentage of naïve CD4+CD45RA+ and CD3+CD45RA+ T‐cell subsets (p = 0.006 and p = 0.003, respectively). Additionally, higher exposure to SHS was associated with a higher CD4+CD45RA+ count (532 vs. 409 cells/ml, p = 0.017). Moreover, after controlling for age, gender, body mass index and plasma antioxidants, SHS exposure was found to be associated with the percentage of circulating naïve and memory CD4+ and CD3+ T‐cell subpopulations, as revealed through a linear regression analysis. These findings indicate a systemic immunological response in healthy adolescents exposed to population‐based levels of SHS exposure and imply an additional biological pathway for the interaction between exposure to SHS and its adverse effects on human health.     

Analysis of changes in the percentage of B (CD19) and T (CD3) lymphocytes,subsets CD4, CD8 and their memory (CD45RO), and naive (CD45RA) T cells in children with immune and non-immune thyroid diseases

Graves' disease (GD) is an autoimmune thyroid disease caused by immunological abnormality. The immune cells (lymphocytes T and B) which infiltrate the thyroid gland play a key role in the development of autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences between distribution of T (CD3) lymphocytes, subsets CD4, CD8, and their memory (CD45RO), and naive (CD45RA) T cells and B (CD19) lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of patients with Graves' disease (GD) (n = 33, mean age 15.9 +/- 5.9 years) and non-toxic nodular goiter (NTNG) (n = 25, mean age 15.2 years), in comparison to age- and sexmatched healthy control subjects (n = 25, mean age 15.9 years). The percentages of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets were analyzed by three-color flow cytometry using a Coulter EPICS XL cytometer. In the untreated Graves' patients we observed an increase in the percentage of CD19+ (p<0.007, p<0.003), CD4+ (p<0.004, p<0.017), CD4+CD45RO+ (p<0.04, NS), CD4/CD8 ratio (p<0.002, p<0.001) and a decrease in the percentage of CD8+ (p<0.02, p<0.02), CD4+CD45RA+ (p<0.04, p<0.03) cells in comparison to the healthy control subjects and euthyroid Graves' patients. These abnormalities were absent in children with non-toxic nodular goiter. In addition, the levels of CD3+, CD4+CD8+, CD8+CD45RO+ T cells and CD8 lymphocytes co-expressing CD45RA and CD45RO antigens were similar in all groups and no statistically significant differences were found in comparison to the healthy controls. In the untreated Graves' patients we found a positive correlation between serum levels of fT4 and fT3 and the percentage of CD19+ lymphocytes (r = 0.45, p<0.01, r = 0.37, p<0.04), between serum level of fT4 and the percentage of CD4CD45RO (r = 0.4, p<0.02) lymphocytes and between concentration of TRAb and CD4+ (r = 0.38, p <0.04) and CD19+ (r = 0.39, p<0.016) cells. Statistically significant negative correlations existed between TRAb, TPO-Ab or TG-Ab concentration in blood serum and the percentage of CD8+ lymphocytes (r = -0.55, p<0.002; r = -0.41, p<0.02; r = -0.51, p<0.004), and between fT4 concentration and the percentage of CD8+ (r = -0.39, p<0.02) lymphocytes. No such correlation was detected in patients with non-toxic nodular goiter. We conclude that the abnormal distribution of B lymphocytes, memory and naive T cell subsets in the peripheral blood in children and adolescents with untreated Graves' disease suggests their role in the development of autoimmunity. The normalization in the percentage of these immune cells after thyrostatic treatment in comparison to newly diagnosed patients confirms the immunomodulatory effect of methimazole therapy.     

呼吸道合胞病毒下呼吸道感染外周血Th细胞亚群的研究

为探讨RSV下呼吸道感染辅助性T淋巴细胞CD4~+及其亚群CD4~+CD45RA~+、CD4~+CD45RO~+的表达及其意义,用单克隆抗体双色免疫荧光PE/FITC双标记,流式细胞仪检测30例RSV下呼吸道感染患儿急性期外用血单个核细胞(PBMCs)辅助性T淋巴细胞 CD4~+及其亚群CD4~+CD45RA~+、CD4~+CD45RO~+的表达;同时检测15例年龄、性别无差异的健康儿为对照。结果显示,RSV下呼吸道感染组患儿外周血辅助性T淋巴细胞CD4~+明显低于对照组(P<0.05);CD4~+CD45RA~+细胞明显下降(P<0.05);CD4~+CD45RO~+细胞虽稍有下降,但与对照组相比无统计学差异(P>0.05);CD4~+CD45RA~+/CD4~+CD45RO~+比值与对照组相比明显降低(P<0.05)。表明婴幼儿RSV下呼吸道感染急性期的免疫功能紊乱主要表现为辅助性T淋巴细胞CD4~+及其亚群CD4~+CD45RA~+/CD4~+CD45RO~+的失衡。     

Immunophenotypic characterisation of peripheral blood lymphocytes in autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 1: clinical study and review of the literature

Autoimmune endocrinopathies are characterised by an increased number of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) expressing activation/ memory markers on their surface. The aim of this study was to determine whether a similar finding could be detected in a group of 11 paediatric and young adult patients suffering from autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 1 (APS1), also called autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED), as very few data have previously been reported in this field. The control group was made up of 11 sex- and age-matched healthy subjects. Fifteen lymphocyte subsets were compared, in terms of percentage and absolute number, and statistical analysis was performed by the Mann-Whitney test. Measurement of T (CD3+), B (CD19+), natural killer (NK, CD3-CD16/56+), CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes showed that patients with APS1 had a higher percentage and absolute count of T lymphocytes: this was entirely due to the statistically larger CD3+CD4+ fraction. Patients with APS1 also had slightly fewer B and NK lymphocytes, but the difference was negligible. Comparison of CD4+ subpopulations bearing activation and naive/memory antigens (marked by CD69, CD25, anti-HLA-DR, CD45RA and CD45RO) showed that patients with APS1 had generally larger percentages and absolute counts of these subsets: however, only the percentage and absolute size of the CD4+CD25+ subset (p = 0.0354 and p = 0.0151, respectively), and the absolute number of the CD4+ anti-HLA-DR+ and CD4+ CD45RO+ subsets (p = 0.0193 and p = 0.0209, respectively) were significantly higher. Interestingly, patients with APS1 also had significantly fewer CD8+CD11b+ and CD3-CD8+ cells. In conclusion, PBL distribution in APS1 resembles that of other autoimmune diseases. Further studies are needed to confirm and possibly extend these data.