HIV-1感染者淋巴细胞活化与第二受体表达的研究

目的：了解HIV－1感染者体内淋巴细胞的活化情况及表达第二受体CCR5、CXCR4的淋巴细胞活化状态，分析这些指标与疾病严重程度的关系，探讨HIV感染的免疫基础。方法：用三色标记法流式细胞术检测24例HIV－1感染者及13例健康对照的抗凝血标本，分析活化标志物HLA－DR及第二受体CCR5、CXCR4的表达等指标。结果：HIV－1感染者CD8^ T淋巴细胞的HLA－DR表达高于健康对照（P＜0．001）；HIV－1感染者表达CCR5、CXCR4的CD8^ T淋巴细胞活化明显高于健康对照（P＜0．001）；表达CCR5CD4^ 、CD8^ T淋巴细胞与表达CXCR4相比HL－DR表达均明显增高（P＜0．001）；CD4^ 、CD8^ T淋巴细胞的活化状态与CD4百分率的变化明显关系。结论：HIV－1感染者CD8^ T淋巴细胞及表达不同第二受体的CD8^ T淋巴细胞活化程度明显增高，活化程度与疾病进程相关。     

Caspase-8信号分子对SLE患者T细胞亚群的双向调节作用研究

目的 分析SLE患者外周血T细胞内活化Caspase-8、Caspase-3和T细胞膜上Fas、CD69以及外周血中Foxp3 CD4 CD25 调节性T细胞的表达,探讨他们在SLE患者免疫失衡中的作用.方法 用流式细胞术检测活化Caspase-8、Caspase-3和Fas、CD69以及Foxp3 CD4 CD25 Treg的表达.结果 与健康对照相比,SLE患者外周血CD3 CD4 T细胞上Fas表达显著升高(P＜0.05),无论稳定期或活动期SLE患者CD3 CD4 T细胞和CD3 CD8 T细胞中活化Caspase-8的表达均显著增加(P＜0.05),且稳定期和活动期SLE患者CD3 CD8 T细胞中活化Caspase-8的表达高于其在CD3 CD4 T细胞中的表达(P＜0.05);但是仅活动期SLE患者T细胞内活化Caspase-3表达增加(P＜0.05),同时稳定期和活动期SLE患者CD3 CD4 T细胞中活化Caspase-3的表达高于其在CD3 CD8 T细胞中的表达(P＜0.05).同时SLE患者CD3 CD8 T细胞上CD69表达率升高(P＜0.05),但是CD69在CD3 CD4 T细胞上的表达率与健康对照相比无显著性差异(P＞0.05).SLE患者外周血中Foxp3 CD4 CD25 Treg比例显著低于健康对照(P＜0.05).结论 Caspase-8介导的信号事件同时参与诱导SLE患者淋巴细胞的凋亡与活化,促使SLE患者体内免疫反应向Th2极化,同时由于SLE患者外周血中Foxp3 CD4 CD25 Treg表达降低所介导的免疫抑制效应缺陷,他们共同作用促使SLE患者外周免疫平衡障碍.     

儿童癫痫患者T淋巴细胞活化并产生促炎因子

目的检测儿童癫痫患者外周T淋巴细胞活化状态以及细胞因子水平变化。方法选取20名儿童癫痫患者和19名健康对照儿童,采集外周血,分离外周血单个核细胞(PBMC),用细胞膜表面标记抗体流式细胞术检测T淋巴细胞表面共刺激分子CD69、CD25和细胞毒性T淋巴细胞相关蛋白4(CTLA4)的表达,用细胞内因子染色结合流式细胞术检测T细胞细胞因子γ干扰素(IFN-γ)、白细胞介素6(IL-6)、肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)和IL-17A的表达,利用细胞内因子染色结合流式细胞术检测调节性T淋巴细胞(Treg)表达IL-10的情况。结果与对照组相比,儿童癫痫患者外周血中T淋巴细胞表面高表达共刺激分子CD69、CD25和CTLA4,活化的CD4+T细胞高表达IFN-γ、TNF-α、IL-6和IL-17 A。在儿童癫痫患者高表达IL-10的Treg数目增加。结论儿童癫痫患者外周T淋巴细胞活化并产生细胞因子。     

再生障碍性贫血患者淋巴细胞表型变化

目的：研究再生障碍性贫血（AA）患者骨髓（BM）及外周血（PB）淋巴细胞及其活化相关分子的表达及临床意义。方法：采用单色和双色免疫荧光标记法，流式细胞仪分析AA患者的BM和PB中淋巴细胞膜分子的表达。结果：AA患者BM和BP中CD8^ 细胞增加，CD4／CD8比例下降，BM在CD25^ 细胞和HLA－DR^ 细胞增多，急性AA增加尤为显著（P＜0．01），BM中CD16^ 或CD56^ 细胞也明显增多（P＜0．05），双标记分析提示T细胞主要为CD8^ 细胞：急性AA患者CD8^ -CD25^ 细胞显著增多（P＜0．01），AA患者BM中淋巴细胞活化相关分子表达增多，尤其4－1BB^ ,CD95L^ 和CD40L＋细胞显著增多（P＜0．01），结论：AA患者BM中淋巴细胞活化相关膜分子增多，是AA免疫功能异常及最终导致造血功能衰竭的原因之一。     

尖锐湿疣患者外周血T淋巴细胞上活化抗原的表达

目的 :探讨尖锐湿疣 (CA)患者外周血CD6 9和HLA DR分子在T淋巴细胞上表达的变化及其意义。方法 :采用免疫荧光三标记流式细胞术检测 30例CA患者外周血T细胞CD6 9和HLA DR抗原的表达 ,并以 31例正常人作为对照。结果 :CA患者外周血CD3 T细胞CD6 9的表达 (6 6 3%± 3 13% )与正常人对照组 (5 12 %± 1 6 4 % )相比 ,差异有显著性 (P <0 0 5 ) ,CD4 T细胞CD6 9的表达与正常人对照组相比 ,差异无显著性 (P >0 0 5 ) ,CD8 T细胞表达CD6 9水平 (4 6 1%± 3 0 9% )明显高于对照组 (2 6 7%± 1 31% ,P <0 0 1) ;患者组CD3 T细胞中HLA DR 细胞 (2 1 6 5 %± 8 84 % )比对照组 (13 5 6 %± 5 15 % )显著增高 (P <0 0 0 1)。结论 :CA患者外周血T淋巴细胞的激活以CD8 T细胞为主 ,其免疫激活状态在抗病毒感染中起着重要作用。     

恢复期SARS患者淋巴细胞亚群分布及其与T淋巴细胞Ag-NOR含量相关性的初步分析

目的　通过检测恢复期SARS患者外周血淋巴细胞亚群分布及其与T淋巴细胞核仁形成区嗜银蛋白 (Ag NOR)含量的相关性分析 ,探讨恢复期SARS患者的免疫状态及淋巴细胞亚群与活性状态改变的关系。方法　以流式细胞术检测患者外周血淋巴细胞亚群 ,用KL型免疫图像分析系统检测外周血T淋巴细胞Ag NOR ,对两者进行相关分析。结果　恢复期患者T淋巴细胞总数及CD4 +亚群基本正常 ,而CD8+亚群偏高 ,CD4 +/CD8+降低 ,CD4 +/CD8+<1的比例占 37.4 % ,激活T细胞中以CD8+细胞为主。B细胞比例正常。NK细胞明显低于对照组。重症患者CD4 +、CD4 +/CD8+、CD1 9+CD5+降低及CD8+、CD3+HLA DR+升高。 50岁以上及使用大剂量激素患者CD3+HLA DR+升高。淋巴细胞Ag NOR的含量 (IS % )在正常范围 ,但患者IS值呈偏态分布 ,低于正常范围者占 4 4.99%。淋巴细胞Ag NOR的含量与CD3+、NK、CD3+HLA DR+、CD3+CD2 5+在统计学上具有相关性。结论　恢复期SARS患者免疫功能趋于恢复正常 ,但部分患者的淋巴细胞亚群数量及淋巴细胞活性仍未恢复正常 ,这些病人在临床症状得到改善之后 ,尚需一定时间的观察随访 ,以了解SARS病毒对人体免疫机能的长期影响。     

青藤碱对红斑狼疮患者外周血T细胞的抑制作用及机制探讨

目的：观察青藤碱（SIN）对系统性红斑狼疮患者T细胞功能的影响，探讨其免疫抑制作用机理。方法：分离SLE患者的PBMCs，加入anti-CD3及不同浓度SIN，以ELISA和流式细胞仪方法分析青藤碱对T淋巴细胞活化和Th1／Th2细胞因子产生的影响。结果：SIN可抑制SLE患者外周血T细胞产生IFN-γ、IL-2和IL-4。SIN能够显著降低CD4^＋T和CD8^＋T细胞表面活化分子CD69和CD25的表达。结论：SIN可通过抑制T细胞的活化及细胞因子的分泌，发挥免疫抑制作用。     

异体角膜刺激引起的人外周血T细胞及其亚群CD25分子表达

目的：观察异体角膜体外对人外周血T细胞及其亚群CD25分子表达的影响。方法： 异体角膜与外周血淋巴细胞体外共同培养后，进行单克隆抗体标记和流式细胞分析。结果： 对照组T细胞CD25表达为25.2％；受角膜或沸波醇酯（PDB）激活后T细胞CD25表达分别为56.8％和80.9％；受角膜和沸波醇酯共同激活后T细胞CD25表达为70.2％；受异体角膜激活后，CD4和CD8 T淋巴细胞CD25表达分别为67.3％和52.3％。结论： 异体角膜组织体外能够刺激人外周T细胞CD25表达和T细胞活化，CD4 T细胞比CD8 T细胞活化更明显。     

高效抗逆转录病毒治疗对中国HIV/AIDS患者淋巴细胞活化及第二受体表达的影响

目的　了解高效抗逆转录病毒治疗后中国HIV/ AIDS患者淋巴细胞活化及CCR5、CXCR4表达的变化,探讨HIV感染者对于抗病毒治疗的免疫应答。方法　10例HIV /AIDS患者给予高效抗逆转录病毒治疗(HAART),用流式细胞仪检测治疗前和治疗第3、6 个月T淋巴细胞活化(HLA DR、CD38表达)及第二受体CCR5、CXCR4表达情况,比较HIV/ AIDS患者治疗前后淋巴细胞活化、第二受体表达的变化。结果　治疗前,10例HIV /AIDS患者CD4+、CD8+ T淋巴细胞活化水平均明显高于健康对照,CD8+ T淋巴细胞表面CCR5的表达明显高于健康对照,CXCR4 的表达明显低于健康对照(P<0.05);HAART治疗后,患者淋巴细胞活化水平随治疗时间明显下降(P<0.05),CD8+ T淋巴细胞表面CCR5表达水平显著降低(P< 0. 01), CXCR4 的表达升高;治疗6 个月时, CD38 CD4、HLA DRCD38 CD4、CCR5 CD8、CXCR4 CD8表达水平恢复至健康人水平;HIV AIDS淋巴细胞活化水平及第二受体CCR5的表达降低与HAART治疗后CD4+T淋巴细胞数量的升高具有显著的相关性。结论HAART能够降低中国HIV /AIDS患者淋巴细胞活化水平,使第二受体表达水平趋于正常,促进免疫功能的恢复。     

乙型肝炎外周血淋巴细胞CD3~+、CD3~+HLA-DR~+的表达

T淋巴细胞的CD3分子为成熟T淋巴细胞所特有的膜表面分子 ,它可代表T淋巴细胞总数。HLA DR是MHCII类分子 ,具高度多态性 ,在调控抗原递呈细胞 (APC )激活的T细胞活化的程度和特异性中起着重要作用。成熟T淋巴细胞受抗原激活后可表达MHCIl类分子 ,因此HLA DR分子可作为T细胞的活化标志。为观察乙型肝炎成熟T细胞量的变化及活化情况 ,我们测定了一些病人外周血CD3 、CD3 HLA DR 的表达。1　材料与方法1 1　临床资料　检测对象为 2 0 0 1年收治的乙型肝炎共 38例 ,男 34例 ,女 4例 ,平均年龄 36岁。慢性乙型肝炎 32例 ,其中轻度…     

多发性硬化患者淋巴细胞激活的临床意义

目的：探讨多发性硬化(MS)患者淋巴细胞的激活状态及临床意义。方法：流式细胞仪测定28例缓解复发型MS患者(复发期20例，缓解期8例)外周血(PB)、12例复发期脑脊液(CSF)及11例复发期MS患者予糖皮质激素治疗后淋巴细胞CD69和HLA-DR表达的阳性百分率。结果：复发期MS患者阳淋巴细胞HLA-DR 和CD3 ／HAL-DR 的百分率高于对照组和缓解期MS，缓解期MS患者CD3 /HLA-DR 的百分率高于对照组3复发期MS患者CSF中CD69 、HLA-DR 和CD3 ／HLA-DR 的百分率均高于PB；复发期MS患者CSF中CD69 的百分率与血脑屏障受损呈正相关；激素治疗降低复发期MS PB淋巴细胞HLA-DR 的百分率。结论：MS患者淋巴细胞激活涉及MS的发病机制并可作为MS活动期的一个指标。     

T cell activation and disease severity in HIV infection.

In vitro studies have indicated that T lymphocyte activation may be of importance in the pathogenesis of HIV infection. In order to define the role of immune activation in vivo, we assessed the expression of the T cell activation markers HLA-DR and CD25 by flow cytometry in peripheral blood in relation to disease severity and the surrogate markers CD4 and beta 2-microglobulin in 157 patients with HIV infection and 53 healthy seronegative blood donors. Percentage levels of CD3+HLA-DR+ T lymphocytes were significantly higher (P < 0.0001) and percentage levels of CD3+CD25+ T lymphocytes significantly lower (P < 0.0001) in all HIV+ patients compared with controls. A significant correlation was observed between increasing percentage levels of CD3+HLA-DR+ T lymphocytes and both declining CD4 counts (r = 0.52; P < 0.001) and increasing beta 2-microglobulin levels (r = 0.56; P < 0.001). Percentage levels of CD4+HLA-DR+ and CD4+ CD25+ lymphocytes were significantly higher in all HIV+ patients compared with controls (P < 0.001). Levels of activated (HLA-DR+ and CD25+) CD4+ lymphocytes showed a significant step-wise linear increase with increasing disease severity (P < 0.001). High levels of CD3+HLA-DR+ T lymphocytes were found in a greater proportion (81.8%) of asymptomatic HIV+ patients (Centres for Disease Control (CDC) group II) than low CD4 counts (51.5%) (P < 0.001). Compared with controls, HIV+ patients had higher percentage levels of CD8+HLA-DR+ lymphocytes (P < 0.001), but similar levels of CD8+CD25+ lymphocytes. These results indicate that T cell activation is not only a consistent but also an early feature in HIV infection. Monitoring levels of activated T cells and their subsets is of value in assessing progression of HIV-related disease.     

手足口病患者外周血淋巴细胞亚群激活与CD95表达的检测与意义

目的 研究手足口病（HFMD）患者外周血淋巴细胞CD95、HLA-DR活化分子表达的变化及其意义.方法 以健康儿童作为对照,采用流式细胞术,检测58例手足口病患者外周血淋巴细胞CD95标志、T细胞亚群及其HLA-DR抗原表达.结果 HFMD患者外周血CD3^＋T细胞的百分率（63.82±7.74）%与健康对照组比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0.001）,CIM^＋T细胞的百分率（34.29±7.33）%明显低于正常对照组（P〈0.005）;HLA-DR^＋淋巴细胞（28.30±7.61）%比正常对照组显著增高（P〈0.005）;CD8^＋T细胞表达HLA-DR水平（1.34±1.12）%明显高于对照组（P〈0.005）;淋巴细胞CD95表达差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）.结论 HFMD患者存在细胞免疫功能紊乱和淋巴细胞异常激活现象,T淋巴细胞的激活以CD8^＋T细胞为主,其在抗病毒感染中起着重要作用.     

Does immune activation continue during an attack‐free period in familial Mediterranean fever?

Although some information is available regarding immune activation in familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), little is known about either peripheral blood T cell activation marker expression or the T cell proliferative response to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). In the present study, we aimed to investigate the percentages of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets, T cell expression of cellular activation markers (CD25, CD69, HLA-DR), the T cell response to PHA and serum levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) and interleukin (IL)-10 in patients with FMF. Forty patients with FMF were enrolled into the study. Control groups were sex- and age-matched and consisted of 20 healthy blood donors and 15 patients with inactive Behcet's disease. The patients with FMF in an attack period had higher levels of sIL-2R than those in an attack-free period, and also in comparison with both control groups. The levels of sIL-2R were also found to be higher in patients with FMF in an attack-free period than those in both control groups. The mean levels of IL-10 were found to be lower in patients with FMF in an attack-free period than those in an attack period and were also lower than those in the healthy controls. In an acute attack period, the absolute counts of CD3+HLA-DR+, CD4+CD69+, CD8+CD25+ and CD8+CD69+ T cells in peripheral blood samples were also higher than those in both control groups. Both the percentages and absolute counts of CD4+CD69+ T cells in peripheral blood samples of patients with FMF in an attack-free period were slightly but significantly higher than those in the healthy controls. In conclusion, our study indicates that the T cell system is abnormally activated in patients with FMF in both the attack and attack-free period and that decreased IL-10 levels may create a tendency to perpetuate subclinical immune activation in the attack-free period.     

肾综合征出血热CD178 +T淋巴细胞本质的临床研究

目的探讨肾综合征出血热(hemorrhagicfeverwithrenalsyndrome,HFRS)患者CD178 T淋巴细胞的本质及其在致病过程中的作用。方法应用流式细胞仪(flowcytometry,FCM)对56份HFRS患者外周血标本进行检测,分析CD178在HFRS淋巴细胞亚群和活化淋巴细胞中的表达及其动态变化。结果HFRS发热期和多尿期CD4 CD178 及CD8 CD178 T淋巴细胞与对照组比较明显增加,差异具有统计学意义。HFRS发热期和多尿期CD178在CD4 HLADR T淋巴细胞群及CD8 HLADR T淋巴细胞群表达均明显增高,与正常对照组比较,差异具有统计学意义;而发热期与多尿期之间比较,差异无统计学意义。结论HFRS的发病过程中CD178表达于活化CD4 淋巴细胞亚群,主要表达于CD8 T细胞亚群,且病程早期和后期均有高表达。推测在发病早期细胞毒T细胞(cytotoxicTlymphocyte,CTL)通过CD178介导的细胞调亡清除病毒感染的靶细胞,在疾病末期则通过清除活化的抗原特异性T细胞,维持机体免疫自身的稳定。     

Monitoring non-immediate allergic reactions to iodine contrast media

Non-immediate reactions to iodine contrast media (ICM) affect 2-5% of patients receiving these agents. We studied the immunological mechanisms involved in patients with a confirmed non-immediate reaction, maculopapular exanthema, after administration of ICM. The diagnosis was carried out by skin testing or drug provocation test. The immunological study was performed in sequential peripheral blood mononuclear cells taken from the onset of the reaction by flow cytometry and in skin biopsy by immunohistochemistry, with specific recognition by the lymphocyte transformation test (LTT) with different ICM. Flow cytometry showed an increase in the different activation markers [CD69, CD25 and human leucocyte antigen D-related (HLA-DR)] and the skin homing receptor [cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen (CLA)] in CD4 lymphocytes, whereas perforin was higher in the CD8 lymphocytes. The skin biopsy showed a perivascular mononuclear infiltrate composed of CD4 lymphocytes, expressing CD25, HLA-DR and CLA, with eosinophils. Intradermal skin tests and the LTT were positive to several ICM, including the culprit agent in four and three patients, respectively, with negative results in all 10 tolerant controls. We showed that a specific immunological mechanism was implicated in patients with non-immediate reactions to ICM. Moreover, the positive results in skin tests and lymphocyte proliferation tests indicated that an important cross-reactivity exists.     

慢性乙型肝炎患者外周血CD4~+CD25~+Treg与CD4~+和CD8~+ T淋巴细胞亚群的相关研究

目的:探讨慢性乙型肝炎患者外周血中CD4+CD25+调节性T细胞的含量和CD4+CD8+T淋巴细胞亚群分布,两者之间相关性及与HBV的相关性。方法:采用流式细胞术检测50例慢性乙型肝炎患者和20例健康对照者外周血中CD4+CD25high、CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg细胞表达及CD3/CD4/CD8 T淋巴细胞亚群,荧光定量PCR法检测HBV DNA含量。结果:慢性乙型肝炎患者外周血中CD4+CD25highTreg明显高于健康对照组(P0.01),且随HBV DNA载量增加,患者外周血中CD4+CD25highTreg细胞的水平逐渐升高。慢性乙型肝炎患者外周血中CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg细胞也相应增高,且与CD4+CD25highTreg细胞的变化成正相关(r=0.890,P0.001)。与健康对照组比较,患者组CD4+T细胞百分率及CD4+/CD8+比值均降低,而CD3+T细胞和CD8+T细胞百分率差异无显著性(P0.05)。CD4+CD25highTreg细胞与HBV DNA取对数后成正相关(r=0.782,P0.001),与谷丙转氨酶(ALT)成正相关(r=0.432,P0.005);与CD3+、CD4+、CD8+T细胞水平及CD4+/CD8+比值均无相关性(P0.05)。CD3+、CD4+、CD8+T淋巴细胞及CD4+/CD8+比值与HBV DNA载量之间亦无相关性(P0.05)。结论:慢性乙型肝炎患者外周血中CD4+CD25+Treg细胞增高,且与HBV的复制水平及ALT增高具有一致性,而T细胞亚群是否可作为监测CHB患者免疫状态的指标需进一步探讨。     

Expression of the interleukin-2 receptor alpha (CD25) is selectively decreased on decidual CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in normal pregnancies

In a previous study, we demonstrated that the proportion of activated T cells (CD69+CD3+ and HLA-DR+CD3+) is higher in the endometrium and decidua after the luteal phase and throughout early pregnancy compared with in the peripheral blood. However, there was no difference in the proportion of CD25+CD3+ lymphocytes between the endometrium and peripheral blood. In this study, we further verify that the levels of CD25 on CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes are not increased in normal pregnancy, although the levels of CD69 and HLA-DR are markedly increased. We also elucidate that the amounts of all three activation molecules on local T lymphocytes are down-regulated in pregnancy compared with that during the luteal phase. Nevertheless, these decreases are significantly lessened in anembryonic pregnancies with both normal and abnormal karyotyping. However, in peripheral blood, the down-regulation of activation molecules levels in pregnancy is only demonstrated on CD4+ cells and for HLA-DR on CD8+ cells. Furthermore, dual activation marker analysis demonstrated that the expression of CD25 appears to be dissociated from CD69 and HLA-DR on the same decidual lymphocytes. Because IL-2Ralpha plays a pivotal role in the development and propagation of functional T cells, its depressed expression may result in maternal tolerance of the fetal allograft.     

两次随访的康复期SARS患者T细胞亚群及其相关活化分子的研究

目的 :探讨康复期SARS患者外周血T细胞亚群及其相关活化分子的变化。方法 ::对出院后的SARS患者 ,采用统一调查问卷及实验室检测进行随访研究。两次随访中 ,应用流式细胞仪检测了我院 70余例经中西医结合治疗的康复期SARS患者外周血中CD3 、CD4 、CD8 、CD8 CD2 8 、CD8 CD2 8-、CD3 CD2 5 、CD3 CD6 9 、CD3 HLA DR T细胞的百分率及CD4 /CD8 T细胞的比率的改变 ,并以描述性分析及t检验进行比较分析。结果 :两次随访中 ,CD3 、CD4 和CD8 CD2 8 T细胞的百分率 (均值 )及CD4 /CD8 T细胞的比率 ,均明显低于正常值 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,而CD8 CD2 8-T细胞的百分率则显著增高 (P <0 .0 1)。第 2次随访中 ,检测的CD3 、CD8 、CD3 CD2 5 、CD3 CD6 9 及CD3 HLA DR T细胞的百分率 (均值 ) ,及CD4 /CD8 T细胞的比率 ,与第 1次的相比较差异较显著 (P <0 .0 1) ,其余项目差异均不明显。结论 :随着康复期的延长 ,患者的免疫功能逐渐恢复 ,病毒对T细胞活化的影响逐渐减少。     

Activated T lymphocytes in pre-eclampsia

PROBLEM: The aim of our study was to investigate the activation markets of T CD3(+), T helper CD4(+) and T cytotoxic CD8(+) cells, as well as, the populations of T na?ve CD4(+) CD45RA(+), T memory CD4(+) CD45RO(+) and T regulatory lymphocytes in PE and healthy pregnant women. METHOD OF STUDY: Twenty-five patients with PE and thirty healthy third trimester pregnant women were included in the study. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from peripheral blood, stained with monoclonal antibodies and estimated using the flow cytometric method. RESULTS: The percentages of CD4(+)CD25(+), CD4(+)CD25(dim), CD3(+)HLA-DR(+), CD4(+)HLA-DR(+) and CD8(+)HLA-DR(+) cells did not differ between study groups. The population of T regulatory CD4(+)CD25(bright) lymphocytes was significantly lower in the group of patients with PE when compared with the controls (P < 0.01). The percentages of CD3(+)CD25(+) (P < 0.05), CD8(+)CD25(+) (P < 0.05), CD4(+)45RO(+) (P < 0.01) lymphocytes were significantly higher, while CD4(+)CD45RA(+) (P < 0.01) cells--significantly lower in peripheral blood of patients with PE when compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: The increased levels of T CD4(+)45RO(+) and T CD8(+) CD25(+) cells can suggest the activation of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocytes in pre-eclampsia. It seems possible that the activation of T lymphocytes is associated with the deficiency of T regulatory cells in PE.