Influence of race, age and sex on the lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood of healthy Malaysian adults

The lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood of healthy Malaysian adults (212 subjects, age 18-71 years) were analysed using a flow cytometer FACScan in an effort to establish a reference range for the lymphocyte subsets. The lymphocyte subsets studied were T cells (CD3), B cells (CD19), natural killer (NK) cells (CD3- CD16+/CD56+), helper/inducer cells (CD4), cytotoxic/suppressor cells (CD8) and the helper/suppressor ratio (CD4/CD8). The distributions of T cells, CD4 cells and CD8 cells were symmetric about their means while B cells, NK cells and CD4/CD8 ratio followed a skewed distribution. Differences in race were observed for T cells, NK cells, CD4 cells and CD4/CD8 ratio where the Indians were significantly different from the Malays and the Chinese (higher T cells, CD4 cells and CD4/CD8 ratio and lower NK cells). The B cells were significantly lower in the Chinese than the Malays and the Indians. Age differences were seen only in the Chinese where increased CD4 cells and CD4/CD8 ratio, and decreased CD8 cells were observed. A sex difference was observed only in the Chinese where the CD4/CD8 ratio was significantly higher in females than males.