Study of T-cell subpopulations defined by monoclonal antibodies in asthmatic children with or without atopic eczema and normals.
The distributions of OKT4+ cells (helper/inducer T cells) and OKT8+ cells (suppressor/cytotoxic T cells) were studied in 47 house dust sensitive asthmatic children with or without atopic eczema and 26 normals. When purified T cell population was studied, the percentage of OKT4+ cells was lower in patients than that in normals before allergen challenge but this difference disappeared after antigen stimulation. In addition, the percentage of OKT4+ cells was decreased in patients with atopic eczema. In contrast, when unfractionated mononuclear cells were studied, no difference in OKT4+ cells and OKT8+ cells was found between patients and normals, irrespective of antigenic stimulation, but the OKT8+ cells were markedly increased in both normals and patients after allergen challenge. The immunopathogenic implication of decreased OKT4+ cells in allergic patients is discussed.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D004391:Dust; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
D000485:Allergens; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D004391:Dust