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Relationships of Differential Leukocyte and Lymphocyte Subpopulations with Carotid Atherosclerosis in Elderly Men

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Abstract

To examine the relationship between systemic immune status and carotid atherosclerosis in elderly men, differential leukocyte counts and lymphocyte subpopulations were measured in 557 apparently healthy Japanese men aged 60–75 years. Each individual also underwent high-resolution ultrasonography for measurement of intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid arteries. The increased numbers of circulating lymphocyte subpopulations, including memory T cells (CD4+CD45RO+T cells) and late-phase activated B cells (CD19+CD80+B cells) correlated significantly and positively with the mean IMT of the common carotid artery after adjustment for age, smoking, and other cardiovascular risk factors. The positive associations of CD19+CD80+B and CD4+CD45RO+ T cell counts with mean IMT were more evident among nonsmokers, hypertensives, and men with lower HDL-cholesterol levels. The present epidemiological study provided the evidence that alterations in lymphocyte subpopulations, in particular memory T cells and late-phase activated B cells concur with carotid atherosclersosis among free-living elderly men.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health Medicine, Institute of Community Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki-ken, Japan

    Takeshi Tanigawa, Kazumasa Yamagishi & Hiroyasu Iso

  2. Osaka Medical Center for Health Science and Promotion, Nakamichi, Higashinari-ku, Osaka, Japan

    Akihiko Kitamura, Shinichi Sato, Tetsuya Ohira, Hironori Imano & Takashi Shimamoto

  3. Central Laboratory, University of Tokyo Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Hongo, Japan

    Susumu Sakurai

  4. National Institute of Industrial Health, Nagao, Tama-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa-ken, Japan

    Akinori Nakata

  5. Tsukuba College of Technology Clinic, Kasuga, Tsukuba, Ibaraki-ken, Japan

    Hitoshi Yamashita

Authors
  1. Takeshi Tanigawa
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  2. Akihiko Kitamura
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  3. Kazumasa Yamagishi
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  4. Susumu Sakurai
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  5. Akinori Nakata
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  6. Hitoshi Yamashita
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  7. Shinichi Sato
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  8. Tetsuya Ohira
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  9. Hironori Imano
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  10. Takashi Shimamoto
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  11. Hiroyasu Iso
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Correspondence to Takeshi Tanigawa.

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Tanigawa, T., Kitamura, A., Yamagishi, K. et al. Relationships of Differential Leukocyte and Lymphocyte Subpopulations with Carotid Atherosclerosis in Elderly Men. J Clin Immunol 23, 469–476 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOCI.0000010423.65719.e5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOCI.0000010423.65719.e5

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