OBJECTIVETo study the levels of CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the peripheral blood of children with epilepsy and the roles of Tregs in the pathogenesis of epilepsy.

METHODSForty-one children with epilepsy and thirty-eight healthy children were enrolled. The percentage of CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ Tregs in CD4+ T cells and the percentages of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, nature killer (NK) cells and B cells in lymphocytes were evaluated by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe percentages of peripheral blood CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ Tregs and CD4+ T cells and the ratio of CD4+ T cells to CD8+ T cells in epileptic children were (2.4±0.5)%, (35±5)% and 1.32±0.24 respectively, which were significantly lower than those in healthy children ［(6.1±1.2)%, (38±4)% and 1.60±0.24 respectively; P<0.05］. In contrast, the percentages of CD8+ T cells, NK cells and B cells in lymphocytes in epileptic children were significantly higher than those in healthy children［(27±3)% vs (24±3)%, (11.1±5.1)% vs (8.5±1.9)% and (24±9)% vs (16±5)% respectively; P<0.05］.

CONCLUSIONSThe abnormal percentage of CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ Tregs in the peripheral blood may be involved in the pathogenesis of epilepsy.