BACKGROUNDTo study apoptosis of peripheral blood cells of children with viral pneumonia, explore immunopathogenesis and the possibility of immunotherapy of patients with viral pneumonia.

METHODSFresh peripheral blood samples were collected from 28 patients with viral pneumonia and 24 healthy children were treated and run through the flow cytometry. The data were acquired using Cell Quest software and the percentage of live cells, viable apoptotic cells, non-viable apoptotic cells and dead cells of neutrophils and lymphocytes were counted. The patients with viral pneumonia were hospitalized at our hospital. The average age of patients was 1.3 years; 24 healthy children were served as control group (age 1.8 years, on average). T-test and variance analysis by SPSS FOR WINDOWS 10.0 software was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTSThe percentage of live neutrophils and lymphocytes in the acute stage and recovery stage in patients were significantly lower than that in control group (P < 0.01). The percentage of viable apoptotic neutrophils and lymphocytes in two stages in patients were significantly higher than that in control group (P < 0.05). Except for the percentage of live cells, non-viable apoptotic cells and dead lymphocytes, others had no difference between the patients and control groups.

CONCLUSIONApoptosis of neutrophils and lymphocytes of peripheral blood cells of children with viral pneumonia increased. Whereas the percentage of live cells decreased. Drugs that can accelerate apoptosis may be helpful in treatment of viral pneumonia.