Effect of Buddhist Meditation on the T Lymphocyte Subpopulation

Patients with a reduction in the number of CD4 lymphocytes and functions are prone to bacterial and viral infection. Stress can induce a decrease in CD4 lymphocytes, but the naïve lymphocyte increases after stress management. To evaluate the influence of meditation on the T lymphocyte subpopulation, EDTA blood from 31 monks who meditated and 32 who did not were collected and stained. T lymphocyte subsets were assessed by direct immunofluorescent staining with monoclonal antibodies specific to CD3, CD4 and CD8, and measured by flow cytometer. There was no difference in WBC count, percentage and total count of CD3 and CD8 lymphocytes between either group of monks, but the monks who meditated had a significantly higher percentage of CD4 lymphocytes than those who did not. The percentage of CD3 and CD4 lymphocytes in monks who did not meditate were significantly lower than in normal persons. Chiang Mai Med Bull 2004;43(4):163-168.