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Increased circulating apoptotic lymphocytes in children with Down syndrome
Author(s) -
Gemen Eugenie F.A.,
Verstegen Ruud H.J.,
Leuvenink Jacqueline,
de Vries Esther
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
pediatric blood and cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.116
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1545-5017
pISSN - 1545-5009
DOI - 10.1002/pbc.24246
Subject(s) - lymphocytopenia , apoptosis , propidium iodide , medicine , annexin , immunology , immune system , lymphocyte , immunodeficiency , annexin a5 , programmed cell death , biology , flow cytometry , genetics
Down syndrome (DS) resembles immunodeficiency with increased infections, auto‐immune diseases, and hematological malignancies. Until now, immunological studies in DS mainly focused on T‐lymphocytes. We recently described a profound B‐lymphocytopenia in children with DS. This could be caused by increased apoptosis. Therefore, we determined expression of flowcytometric markers for apoptosis [Annexin‐V (AV) and propidium iodide (PI)] on peripheral lymphocytes in 72 children with DS and 32 age‐matched controls (AMC). Within the total lymphocyte compartment, apoptosis was more pronounced in DS; it increased with age. Moreover, apoptosis was highest within the B‐lymphocyte compartment which may be a contributing factor to the B‐lymphocytopenia found in DS. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2012; 59: 1310–1312. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.