Frequency of cytokine producing CD8+ T cells in β thalassemia patients

Introduction: Infection is the second cause of morbidity and mortality in major β thalassemiaand is supposed to be related to immunologic abnormalities. Immune cell suppression andaccelerated immunosenecence have been reported in these patients. We studied a newconcept of immunosenescence in these patients.Methods: 26 patients with β thalassemia major and 26 age and gender matched control wererecruited to the study. Patients were regularly referred to Hajar Hospital, Shahrekord, Iran.Patients blood samples were collected with heparin and the frequency of cytokine producingCD8+ T cells were measured using whole blood and intracellular cytokine detection reagentsand flowcytometry. Data were analyzed using SPSS 18.Results: the frequency of IL2 producing CD8+ T cells were significantly decreased inpatients versus control (P<0.05). IL2/IFN-γ producing CD8+ T cells were partially lower inpatients than control (P=0.06).Conclusion: Decrease in IL2 producing T cells and IL2/IFN-γ production in major βthalassemia may be a marker of suppression of naïve T cell activation and shift to effectormemory cells. This finding would be related to CD8+ T cell immunosenescence. Key words:CD8+ T cells, immunosenescence, intracellular cytokine detection.