Reference values for T and B lymphocyte subpopulations in Turkish children and adults

Background/aim: Established reference values are critical for the interpretation of immunologic assessments. In particular, the proportion and absolute counts of T- and B- cell subpopulations are subject to change with age and ethnicity. We aimed to establish age- specific reference values for lymphocyte subsets using updated immunophenotyping panels. Materials and methods: We studied a total of 297 healthy Turkish subjects aged 0 to 50 years, stratified into major age brackets in a cluster factor of 10 per age-group. The predetermined age intervals contained randomly allocated participants enrolled over a period of 6 months, who were homogenously distributed by sex. We analyzed a complete blood count test and simultaneously with detailed immunophenotyping enumerated the percent and absolute cell counts of lymphocyte subsets. Results: The percentage and absolute counts of lymphocyte subsets show a marked surge across the age-span. T helper, T cytotoxic, and the natural killer cell numbers were increasing from birth until 6 months, followed by a gradual decrease thereafter. B cell numbers were rising until 2 years, followed by a gradual decrease for the upcoming years, accompanied by a steady expansion of unclass-switched- and class-switched- B cells. Conclusion: We provide updated extensive reference intervals for lymphocyte subpopulations in Turkish people.

Protective effect of alpha-lipoic acid, aerobic or resistance exercise from colitis in second hand smoke exposed young rats.

The role of second hand smoke (SHS) exposure on ulcerative colitis is not known. Our aim was to examine the effects of α-lipoic acid (ALA), chronic aerobic (AE) or resistance exercise (RE) on SHS exposed rats with colitis. Sprague-Dawley male rats (150-200 g, n=54) were selected for colitis induction. Among the colitis groups, one group was exposed to SHS (6 d/wk, 4 cigarettes/d) and the other was not. The SHS group was divided into subgroups as follows: sedentary; AE (swimming; 3 d/wk); and RE (climbing with weight; 3 d/wk). After 5 weeks, colitis was induced by intrarectal acetic acid. All groups had subgroups that were given subcutaneously ALA (50 mg/kg per day) or vehicle for 3 days. Following decapitation, colon tissues were sampled to examine malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, luminol and lucigenin chemiluminenscence, macroscopic scoring and histologic examination. ANOVA and Student's t-test were used for statistical analysis. The increased macroscopic and microscopic scores, MPO, MDA, luminol and lucigenin measurements in colitis and SHS-colitis groups were decreased via ALA (P<.05-.001). AE declined macroscopic and microscopic scores, MDA, lucigenin compared to colitis and SHS-colitis groups (P<.01-.001). RE reduced microscopic score, MPO, MDA, luminol, lucigenin (P<.05-.001) that were increased with colitis. Decreased GSH levels (P<.01) in the SHS-colitis group approached to control levels when given ALA. According to our results SHS and colitis induction increased inflammatory damage. SHS did not worsen it more than colitis. Our results suggest that ALA, AE or RE might be protective for SHS exposed ulcerative colitis conditions.