Altered expression of immune surface markers in children with recurrent infections of respiratory tract.
Infections of the respiratory tract are very common in young children. They may affect the quality of life and have a great economic impact. On the other hand, respiratory tract infections through MALT system play a positive role in the maturation and development of the immune system. The aim of the study was to examine quantitative and qualitative changes of T and B cells and granulocytes surface molecules in 24 children with recurrent (more than 8 episodes per year) infections of the respiratory tract and in 18 healthy children. The expression of CD2, CD3, CD4, CD8 on T cells; HLA-DR, CD19, CD5/CD20 on B cells, and CD11a/CD18, CD11b/CD18, CD62L, CD16 on granulocytes from peripheral blood was evaluated by a flow cytometry method. We observed a significant increase in the CD5+/CD20+ positive cells on B cells. We also observed a decreased expression of CD11c+/CD18+ cells, CD11a, and CD62L on granulocytes. The expression of other structures on lymphocytes and the CD11b/CD18+ on granulocytes remained unchanged. CD5+/CD20+ cells constitute a filogenetically old population responsible for the production of IgM of low specificity and affinity for specific antigens. The prevalence of this fetal phenotype population may be explained as a delayed maturation of the humoral immune system leading to increased susceptibility to infections. A lower percentage of CD11a may be related to the blockade of that molecule by rhinoviruses.
Wasik
M
M
Department of Laboratory Diagnostics and Clinical Immunology of the Developmental Age, Warsaw Medical University, Warsaw, Poland.
Kaczorowska
M
M
Demkow
U
U
D000917:Antibody Formation; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens