T and B lymphocyte subsets are differentially affected in Anorexia Nervosa diagnostic subtypes

Anorexia nervosa (AN) patients suffer from atypical states of malnutrition that have been shown to impair the immune system as manifested by reduced T lymphocyte numbers compared to healthy peers. The following lymphocyte subsets (percentages and absolute values) were assessed by four-colour immunostaining of membrane markers and flow cytometry (FacsScan, BD): CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, (naïve [CD45Ra+] and memory [CD45RO+] distribution), CD3−CD16+CD56+ (NK) and CD19+. [...]our results show that, in contrast with AN restricting subtype, in the binge eating/purging subtype the attempts to preserve normal T cell numbers occur with a decrease in B cells.