OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical significance of T helper type 9 (Th9) cells and interleukin-9 (IL-9) in children suffering from Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infection.

METHODSA total of 86 children who were diagnosed with MP infection between January 2013 and June 2014 were classified into upper respiratory infection (URI) group (n=29), mild MP pneumonia (MPP) group (n=32) and severe MPP group (n=25). Twenty-eight healthy children were used as the control group. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation, and the percentage of Th9 cells in peripheral blood was measured by flow cytometry. Serum IL-9 level was determined using ELISA.

RESULTSThe URI, mild MPP, and severe MPP groups had significantly higher percentages of Th9 cells and IL-9 levels than the control group (P<0.05); the mild MPP and severe MPP groups had significantly higher percentages of Th9 cells and IL-9 levels than the URI group (P<0.05), and the two indices were significantly higher in the severe MPP group than in the mild MPP group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSChildren with MP infection have an elevated percentage of Th9 cells and IL-9 expression, both of which are positively correlated with the severity of the disease. It can be predicted that Th9 cells and IL-9 can be used as evaluation indicators for the progression and outcome of children with MP infection.