Significant changes in the composition of the precursor B‐cell compartment in children less than 2 years old1. Issue 3 (8th March 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Piątosa, Barbara; Birbach, Mariusz; Siewiera, Katarzyna; Ussowicz, Marek; Kałwak, Krzysztof; Drabko, Katarzyna; Rękawek, Aneta; Tkaczyk, Katarzyna; Kurowski, Przemysław Norbert
• Is Part Of: Cytometry. Volume 84B:Issue 3(2013)
• Page Start: 179
• Page End: 186
• Publication Date: 2013-03-08
• Subjects: precursor B‐cell compartment -- bone marrow -- flow cytometry; Flow cytometry -- Diagnostic use -- Periodicals; Cytodiagnosis -- Periodicals; 616.07582
• DOI: 10.1002/cyto.b.21085
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1552-4949

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Defects in early B lymphocyte maturation in bone marrow (BM) compose a characteristic feature of many primary immune deficiencies associated with agammaglobulinemia. To date, only limited data on the composition of the precursor B‐cell compartment in BM is available. The aim of this study was to define normal age‐related ranges of total B‐cell content and distribution of precursor B—cell stages in BM for the future use in clinical diagnostics. Methods: Four color flow cytometry was used to analyze the composition of the B‐cell compartment in specimens from 59 hematologically healthy children, aged 14 days to 16 years, assigned to six age groups: neonates less than 1 month old, infants >1–12 months old, children >1–2 years old, >2–5 years old, >5–10 years old, and older than 10 years. Results: Analysis of the composition of the B‐cell compartment revealed significant age‐related variation in the distribution of individual B‐cell maturation stages, most seriously affecting children during first 2 years of life, with the shift from domination of the earliest stages, to gradually increasing content of mature B‐cells. Significantly higher proportions of pro‐B lymphocytes were observed in neonates than in any other age group. Conclusion: Physiological age‐related variation in the precursor B‐cell compartment composition affects most seriously very young children below the age of 2 years. Proper interpretation of immunophenotyping results performed in cases of suspected early B‐cell differentiation defect requires application of adequate reference data. © 2013 International Clinical Cytometry Society