Polarization and immune regulation of TH cells in children with bronchial asthma.
- Author:
Yu-Hong JIANG
1
;
Ya-Qiu WANG
;
Kuan-Zhou SUN
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH: Asthma; immunology; Cell Polarity; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Interferon-gamma; blood; Interleukin-2; blood; Male; Th1 Cells; immunology; Th2 Cells; immunology
- From: Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2006;8(5):379-381
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVETo study the polarization and immune regulation of TH cells in patients with bronchial asthma.
METHODSThirty-eight hospitalized children with bronchial asthma (ranging from 4-12 years old) and 29 age-matched healthy children (Control group) were enrolled in this study. Serum IL-2 and IFN-gamma levels were detected using ELISA. The percentage of TH1 and TH2 cells was detected by intracellular staining.
RESULTSThe serum levels of IL-2 (15.94 +/- 3.07 microg/L) and IFN-gamma (487.2 +/- 43.6 pg/mL ) in asthmatic patients were significantly lower than those in the Control group (24.73 +/- 4.37 microg/L and 654.07 +/- 14.64 pg/mL respectively; P < 0.01). The percentage of TH1 in asthmatic patients decreased significantly compared with that in the Control group [(11.24 +/- 2.43)% vs (16.67 +/- 2.73)%; P < 0.01]; in contrast, the percentage of TH2 increased compared with that in the Control group [(19.85 +/- 4.46)% vs (16.08 +/- 6.17)%; P < 0.05].
CONCLUSIONSThe serum levels of IL-2 and IFN-gamma, and the number of TH1 cells decreased in asthmatic patients. The decreased number of TH1 cells and the ratio of TH1/TH2 suggest an abnormal polarization of TH1 and TH2 cells. The changes may be associated with the inhibition of cellular immune function in asthmatic patients.
