Naïve CD4 + T cells and recent thymic emigrants in common variable immunodeficiency

Background: common variable immunodeficiency (cvid) comprises a heterogeneous group of disorders classified as predominantly antibody deficiencies. the aim of this study was to analyze levels of naïve cd4 + t cells and recent thymic emigrant (rte) cells in cvid patients and healthy controls. methods: twenty patients with cvid and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were studied. cd4 + t cells were negatively isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells by magnetic beads,and cell surface markers (cd45ra,cd62l and cd31) were assessed by flow cytometry. the normal range of naïve cd4 + t cells detected in the control group (33%-63%) was used to classify the cvid patients into 2 groups (≤33% and >33% naïve cd4 + t cells). results: naïve cd4 + t cells (cd45ra + cd62l +) and rte cells (cd45ra +cd62l +cd31 +) were significantly lower in male cvid patients compared to both female patients and healthy male controls. there were also more male patients in the group with naïve cd4 + t-cell levels of 33% or less. autoimmunity was only observed in this group. conclusions: lower numbers of naïve cd4 + t cells and rte cells in male cvid patients might be due to lower thymic output in these patients. the classification of patients based on naïve cd4 + t cell levels seems to be consistent with clinical features. © 2012 esmon publicidad.