OBJECTIVETo study the changes of red cell immune function and T-lymphocyte subsets in children with bronchiolitis and their possible roles in the pathogenesis of bronchiolitis.

METHODSForty-five children with bronchiolitis and 30 healthy controls were enrolled. Red cell immune complex rosette (RBC-ICR) and red cell C3b receptor rosette (RBC-C3bRR) were detected. The percentages of CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ cells were assayed by flow cytometry.

RESULTSRBC-C3bRR［(13.6 ± 6.2)% vs (18.0 ± 7.4)%] and the percentage of CD8+ cells [(21.6 ± 4.4)% vs (25.6 ± 5.2) %］ in the bronchiolitis group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.01). The percentage of CD3+ cells ［(59.9 ± 6.7)% vs (52.1 ± 8.3)%］ and CD4+ cells [(53.5 ± 6.2)% vs (46.8 ± 4.9)%] and RBC-ICR [(8.3 ± 3.5)% vs (6.1 ± 2.5)%] in the bronchiolitis group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.01). The percentage of CD4+ cells was positively correlated with RBC-ICR (r=0.63,P<0.05) and negatively correlated with RBC-C3bRR (r=-0.82,P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThere are dysfunctions of red cell immune and T-lymphocyte subsets in children with brochiolitis, which may play a role in the pathogenesis of brochiolitis.