支气管哮喘患者TH细胞的极化状态及临床意义

目的：研究支气管哮喘患者TH细胞的极化状态与免疫调控。方法：对2003年1月至2004年3月住院患儿进行TH细胞检测,同时设正常儿童29人为对照组。对两组儿童应用ELISA法检测白细胞介素-2(IL-2)及γ干扰素(IFN-γ)水平,用单细胞内染色法检测TH1,TH2百分率。结果：支气管哮喘患者IL-2为15.94±3.07μg/L,与对照组的24.73±4.37μg/L比较,差异有显著性(P<0.01);IFN-γ为487.2±43.6pg/mL,水平也明显降低,与对照组的654.07±14.64pg/mL比较,差异有显著性(P<0.01);支气管哮喘患者TH1百分率(11.24±2.43)%亦明显低于对照组的(16.67±2.73)%,经t检验差异亦有显著性(P<0.01),支气管哮喘患者TH2百分率明显升高[(19.85±4.46)%vs(16.08±6.17)%;P<0.05]。结论：支气管哮喘患者机体TH1细胞数量及功能低下,TH1/TH2值下降,TH1/TH2极化异常,导致细胞毒性T细胞(CTL)介导的细胞免疫功能抑制。

Polarization and immune regulation of TH cells in children with bronchial asthma

OBJECTIVE: To study the polarization and immune regulation of TH cells in patients with bronchial asthma. METHODS: Thirty-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. RESULTS: The 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]. CONCLUSIONS: The 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.