Lymphopenia and lymphocytosis in practical healthy people born and living in the North

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the mechanisms of the formation of lymphopenia and lymphocytosis in healthy people, who are living and working in the Arctic region.

Materials and methods: A total of 88 practically healthy people living and working in the Arctic region were examined. An analysis of the results was carried out, depending on the concentration of lymphocytes in the peripheral venous blood: group 1-with lymphopenia, the content of lymphocytes below 1.5 × 10⁹ cl/L (21 people); group 2-with a normal lymphocyte content from 1.5 to 3.5 × 10⁹ cl/L (47 people); and group 3-with lymphocytosis, lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of more than 3.5 × 10⁹ cl/L (20 people).

Results: It has been established that the main mechanism for the formation of lymphopenia in a person living in the Arctic is the activation of the migration of functionally active lymphocytes in the tissue. The decrease in the number of circulating lymphocytes is a consequence of their redistribution from the circulating pool to the marginal one and an increase in the activity of adhesive molecules, in particular, the selectin ligand. It was revealed that an increase in the content of lymphocytes in the blood occurs upon the activation of the intracellular energy-intensive mechanisms of lymphoproliferation with an increase in the consumption of intracellular ATP and the participation of the nuclear factor of activated T cells 1. It was shown that the restoration of the circulating pool of mature neutrophils is ensured by the principle of reverse regulation in response to neutropenia by stimulating granulocyte-colony stimulating factor granulopoiesis.

Conclusions: The main mechanism for the formation of lymphopenia and lymphocytosis in healthy people was established.