Detection and Consistency of Mucosal Fluid T Lymphocyte Phenotypes and Their Relationship with Blood, Age and Gender

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

Abstract

Innate and adaptive immune responses at mucosal surfaces play a role in protection against most infectious diseases. However, the relative importance either of mucosal versus systemic, or of cellular versus humoral immunity in protection against such infections remains unclear. We aimed to determine the relative percentages and reproducibility of detection of major T lymphocyte phenotypes in stimulated whole mouth fluid (SWMF); to compare matched mucosal and blood phenotypes; to evaluate the consistency of phenotypes in SWMF over time; and to determine any associations with age or gender. Peripheral blood and SWMF samples were collected from 194 participants and sequential concomitant samples were collected from 27 of those. Samples were also collected from a subset of 12 subjects living with HIV. CD3, CD4, CD8, Th1 and Th2 T lymphocyte phenotypes were determined by FACS. Mean values in SWMF were lower than in blood and there was significant correlation between the fluids, except for CD8. Individual values in SWMF samples taken at 0 and 4 weeks were strongly correlated (p<0.001). Mean values and distribution of CD3, CD4, CD8 or Th2 were similar in SWMF and blood in males and females, except for Th1 percentages in females in blood (p<0.05). Age and CD3 and CD4 percentages were negatively correlated in blood (p<0.001) but no obvious diminution in the mean numbers of any of the five T lymphocyte phenotypes in SWMF was detected. Distributions were similar in those living with HIV. This study demonstrated that consistent detection of T lymphocyte phenotypes in a mucosal fluid (SWMF) using FACS is possible and that participant values remain steady over at least four weeks. Except CD8, all other major T lymphocyte percentages correlated with those in blood, and do not appear to be affected by gender or age. It should now be possible to examine function of mucosal fluid T lymphocytes in relation to infectious diseases.
Original languageEnglish
Number of pages40
JournalSSRN Electronic Journal
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 3 Jun 2024

Keywords

  • mucosal immunity

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