CD4 Antigens ; blood ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; CD8 Antigens ; blood ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Seizures, Febrile ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo observe changes in T cell subsets in children with sepsis and their prognosis, and to investigate the clinical significance of these changes in the occurrence and development of sepsis.

METHODSFifty children with severe sepsis and 150 children with general sepsis were enrolled as subjects, and 50 age-matched healthy children were included as controls. The percentages of CD3(+), CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells in peripheral blood and CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio were measured by flow cytometry. The pediatric critical illness score (PCIS) was calculated within 24 hours of admission.

RESULTSThe children with severe sepsis showed significantly lower percentages of CD3(+), CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio and PCIS than the controls and children with general sepsis (P<0.01). Among the 200 cases of sepsis, the percentages of CD3(+), CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio and PCIS were significantly lower in the cured group than in the deceased group.

CONCLUSIONSChildren with sepsis have different degrees of cellular immunosuppression, and the degree of cellular immunosuppression is significantly correlated with the severity of the disease. Detection of T cell subsets in peripheral blood is of great significance for evaluating immune function and judging disease severity in children with sepsis.

CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Prognosis ; Sepsis ; immunology ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of continuous blood purification (CBP) on T-cell subsets and prognosis in children with severe sepsis.

METHODSA total of 42 children with severe sepsis were randomly divided into a control group (n=22) and a CBP group (n=20). The patients in the control group received conventional treatment, while those in the CBP group underwent continuous veno-venous hemofiltration daily 12-24 hours for 3 days besides conventional treatment. Changes in clinical variables and in peripheral blood regulatory T cell subsets were assessed 3 and 7 days after treatment.

RESULTSThe pediatric intensive care unit length of stay and duration of mechanical ventilation were significantly shortened and the 28-day mortality rate was significantly lower in the CPB treatment group as compared with the control group (P<0.05). In the CBP treatment group, the percentage of CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+) T cell populations and PCIS scores were significantly higher at 3 and 7 days after treatment than before treatment (P<0.05). At 7 days after treatment, the percentage of CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+) T cell populations, CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio and PCIS scores were significantly higher in the CBP group than in the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe CBP treatment may counteract the suppression of immune function and thus improve prognosis in children with severe sepsis.

CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Hemofiltration ; Humans ; Male ; Sepsis ; immunology ; therapy ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo analyze the relationship of anxiety state with CD4(+) level and CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio and to observe the effect of Chinese medicine (CM) treatment on anxiety in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.

METHODSThe anxiety state of 120 CHB patients was evaluated based on Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) scoring. According to the scores, 63 patients with scores ≥14 were classified to anxiety and 57 patients with scores <14 to non-anxiety. The differences in CD4(+) cells and CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio between patients with anxiety and non-anxiety were analyzed. Moreover, 63 patients with anxiety were randomized into two groups: 31 in the control group were treated with lamivudine (100 mg per day) alone and 32 in the observation group were given equal dosage lamivudine combined with CM treatment depending on syndrome differentiation, all for 12 weeks. The effects of treatment on anxiety state and T-lymphocyte subsets as well as its impact on some CHB-related indices were observed and compared.

RESULTSThe anxiety state of CHB patients was negatively correlated with CD4(+) and CD4(+)/CD8(+); the level of CD4(+) in patients with anxiety was significantly lower than that in non-anxiety patients (P<0.01 or P<0.05). After treatment, anxiety state in the observation group was significantly improved, with their HAMA scores significantly lowered (P<0.01), and the levels of CD4(+) and CD4(+)/CD8(+) were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Moreover, the alanine transaminase recovery rate and the HBV-DNA-negative conversion rate in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group, respectively (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe anxiety state of CHB patients was related to CD4(+) and CD4(+)/CD8(+) levels. CM treatment could improve the anxiety state and showed certain regulatory effect on the patients' immune system.

Anxiety ; immunology ; therapy ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; immunology ; psychology ; therapy ; Humans ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets

This study was purposed to investigate the changes of peripheral blood T cells in children with acute leukemia at different stages and understand the immune status of children with leukemia. The CD4⁺, CD8⁺, CD4⁺/ CD8⁺ ratio, CD3⁺ and NK cells in 42 children with acute leukemia and 50 cases of normal children (as control group) were determined by flow cytometry at different periods after complete remission. The results showed that the CD3⁺ CD4⁺, CD8⁺ rate and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio in newly diagnosed ALL and AML children were significantly lower than those in control group (P < 0.05). The NK cell count in newly diagnosed children with acute leukemia was significantly lower than that in control group (P < 0.05). Although the NK cell count in ALL and AML children gradually rose at 3, 6, 12 months after complete remission, but it still was statistically different from normal control group (P < 0.05). It is concluded that children with acute leukima have cellular immune disfunction at onset and during treatment, but the cell immune function gradually recovered after complete remission achieved. However, its recovery rate is slow. The results of this study can provided a basis for subsequently use of immunomodulations in leukemia children.
CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Child ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Leukemia ; immunology ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo study dynamics of T lymphocyte subsets in severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

METHODSSequential anti-coagulated blood samples were collected from 46 cases of SARS patients during the 1st week, the 2nd week, the 3rd-5th week and the 8th-12th week after the infection. T lymphocyte subsets including CD3+CD4+ cells, CD3+CD8+ cells, naive CD4+ cells (CD4+CD45RA+CD62L+) and activated CD8+ cells (CD8+CD38+) were detected by 3-color flow cytometry. Fifty-six normal healthy blood donors were also detected as normal controls.

RESULTSCompared with the results of normal controls, both of the percentages of CD4+ cells and CD8+ cells of SARS patients were in normal levels during the 1st week, but the cell counts decreased significantly to (306 +/- 140)/mm3 and (270 +/- 143)/mm3, respectively. The cell count of naive CD4+ subset also remarkably decreased to (96 +/- 49)/mm3, and the percentage of CD8+CD38+ subset was higher than that of normal controls [(59.3 +/- 12.6)% vs (44.9 +/- 12.5)%]. During the 3rd-5th week, the CD8+ cell count and the percentage of CD8+CD38+ subset reached normal values, which were (581 +/- 356)/mm3 and (40.1 +/- 17.6)%, respectively. During the 8th-12th week, the cell counts of CD4+ cell [(578 +/- 193)/mm3] and naive CD4+ subset [(176 +/- 64)/mm3] were still less than those of normal controls, while compared with those of the 1st week, the increments were remarkable.

CONCLUSIONST lymphocytes of SARS patients decreased dramatically but could be obviously resumed in a short time. It will take more than 8-12 weeks for CD4+ cell and naive CD4+ subset to reach to normal levels.

Adult ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; immunology ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the immunological mechanism of prednisone in the treatment of infantile spasm (IS) by evaluating the immune function of IS children before and after treatment.

METHODSThirty children with IS were enrolled as IS group. Thirty healthy infants who underwent physical examination were enrolled as healthy control group. Fasting venous blood was collected for both groups before and after prednisone treatment. Chemiluminescence was used to measure serum levels of interleukin-1B (IL-1B), interleukin-2R (IL-2R), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Immunoturbidimetric assay was used to measure serum levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin M (IgM), and immunoglobulin G (IgG). Flow cytometry was used to measure the percentages of T lymphocyte subsets (CD3, CD4, and CD8). The clinical outcome and electroencephalographic findings were evaluated for all IS children after prednisone treatment.

RESULTSThe IS group had significantly higher serum levels of IL-2R, IL-8, and TNF-α than the healthy control group before treatment (P<0.05). The mean number of daily ictal clusters was positively correlated with the levels of IL-2R, IL-8, and TNF-α in IS children, the mean number of total daily seizures was positively correlated with IL-8 level, and any two indices out of IL-2R, IL-8, and TNF-α were positively correlated with each other (P<0.05). Among the 30 IS children treated with prednisone, 19 achieved seizure control; electroencephalography showed that 18 children achieved complete remission of hyperarrhythmia. After treatment, the IS group had significant reductions in the numbers of daily ictal clusters and total daily seizures, significant improvement in developmental quotient (P<0.05), and significant reductions in serum levels of IL-2R, L-8, and TNF-α, the percentage of CD4T lymphocytes, and CD4/CD8ratio (P<0.05), as well as a significant increase in the percentage of CD8T lymphocytes (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSIS children have immune dysfunction. Prednisone can control seizures in IS children, possibly by regulating and improving immune dysfunction.

CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Cytokines ; blood ; Electroencephalography ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Prednisone ; therapeutic use ; Spasms, Infantile ; drug therapy ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the characteristics of immune function in newborn infants of different gestational ages.

METHODSA total of 115 premature infants free of infection between June 1, 2012 and June 1, 2013 were divided into two groups according to their gestational age at birth: early preterm infant group (28-33+6 weeks, n=57) and late preterm infant group (34-36+6 weeks, n=58). Meanwhile, 88 full-term infants (37-41+6 week) were recruited to the control group. Venous blood samples were collected within 24 hours after birth. The percentages of lymphocyte subsets, such as CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD19+ T cells and natural killer (NK) cells were measured by flow cytometry, and the absolute count of each population was calculated using the results from routine blood work. Concentrations of serum IgG, IgA, and IgM were measured by immunoturbidimetry.

RESULTSBoth preterm infant groups had significantly higher percentages of CD3+ and CD4+ T cells and CD4+/CD8+ ratio (P<0.05) and significantly lower percentages of CD8+ and CD19+ T cells and NK cells (P<0.05), as compared with the full-term infant group. The absolute counts of total lymphocytes, CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD19+ T cells, and NK cells in both preterm infant groups were significantly lower than those in the full-term infant group (P<0.05), and the above parameters in the late preterm infant group were significantly higher than those in the early preterm infant group (P<0.05). Both preterm infant groups showed significantly lower concentrations of serum IgG than the full-term infant group (P<0.05), while no significant differences in concentrations of serum IgA and IgM were observed between the three groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSNeonatal gestational age has an effect on cellular and humoral immunity. The immune function gradually improves with increasing gestational age.

CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunity, Humoral ; Immunoglobulins ; blood ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; immunology ; Lymphocyte Count

OBJECTIVETo develop a model of SHIV-KB9/Chinese origin rhesus (Ch Rh) macaques for vaccine research and to compare the pathogenesis of SHIV-KB9 in Ch Rh macaques with that reported in Indian rhesus (Ind Rh) macaques.

METHODSSeven mamu-A*01 negative Ch Rh macaques were inoculated intravenously with 1-10000 MID50 of SHIV-KB9. The monkeys were monitored for viral load, CD4, CD8, SHIV-specific antibody and virus genetic variation. The results were compared with those previously observed in Ind Rh macaques.

RESULTSAs compared to that observed in Ind Rh macaques, SHIV-KB9 in Ch Rh macaques displayed three identical disease progression patterns. However, the primary pattern was not identical between the two subspecies. The level of plasma viremia differed in SHIV-KB9-infected Ch Rh macaques which exhibited different outcomes from those in Ind Rh macaques. Generally, the values of viral load and the maintenance of CD4+ T cells were associated with humoral responses. Otherwise, the viral genetic distances (divergence, diversity) were larger in animals (M419, M425) with their CD4+ T cells profoundly depleted.

CONCLUSIONThe model of SHIV-KB9/Ch Rh macaques displays a relatively slow progression to AIDS compared with Ind Rh macaques, which may more accurately reflect the potential of candidate vaccines in humans.

Animals ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; China ; Disease Progression ; India ; Macaca mulatta ; Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; pathology ; Species Specificity ; Viral Load

To explore the relationship between T cell markers in hematological diseases and T cell markers in solid tumor, CD3, CD4, CD8 in hematological diseases, malignant and benign tumors were detected by flow cytometry and results were analyzed statistically. The results showed that CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD4/CD8 in chronic leukemia decreased significantly while these markers in acute leukemia and MDS decreased obviously in comparison with normal persons and other hematological diseases (P < 0.0l). Hemolytic anemia markers increased significantly (P < 0.05). CD3, CD4, CD4/CD8 in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura decreased and CD8 increased (P < 0.0l). CD3, CD4, CD8 in iron-deficiency anemia, anemia from chronic diseases, benign tumor and other hematological diseases were lower than those in normal persons and hemolytic anemia, but higher than those in acute and chronic leukemia, malignant tumor, granulocytopenia, and MDS (P > 0.05). It is notable that the above markers correlated with the development and prognosis of diseases. In conclusion, expression of CD3, CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8 contributes to diagnosis of hematological diseases and benign or malignant tumors, and is an important indicator for therapeutic strategy.
Anemia ; immunology ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Hematologic Diseases ; immunology ; Humans ; Leukemia ; immunology ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; immunology ; Neoplasms ; immunology ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology