Idiopathic CD4+ T lymphocytopenia is associated with increases in immature/transitional B cells and serum levels of IL-7

Blood. 2007 Mar 1;109(5):2086-8. doi: 10.1182/blood-2006-06-031385. Epub 2006 Oct 19.

Abstract

Idiopathic CD4+ T lymphocytopenia (ICL) is a rare heterogeneous disorder defined by CD4+ T-cell counts below 300 cells/muL in the absence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or other known immune deficiency disorders. Here, we report the expansion of immature/transitional B cells in patients with ICL, which is associated with elevated serum levels of IL-7. Both the percentage of immature/transitional B cells and levels of IL-7 were inversely correlated with levels of CD4+ T-cell counts and directly correlated to each other. Further analyses of B cells indicated that, in contrast to the activating effects of HIV disease on mature B cells, the expansion of immature/transitional B cells in patients with ICL occurred at the expense of memory B cells. These findings extend previous reports on primary immunodeficiencies as well as HIV disease by suggesting that CD4+ T-cell lymphopenia has an impact on human B-cell development either directly or indirectly via the associated elevation of IL-7 levels.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • B-Lymphocytes / pathology*
  • Cell Differentiation*
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-7 / blood*
  • T-Lymphocytopenia, Idiopathic CD4-Positive / metabolism*
  • T-Lymphocytopenia, Idiopathic CD4-Positive / pathology*

Substances

  • Interleukin-7