[Changes in T lymphocyte subsets and plasma Th1/Th2 cytokine levels in patients with occupational chronic lead poisoning].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the changes in T lymphocyte subsets and plasma Th1/Th2 cytokine levels in patients with occupational chronic lead poisoning.


METHODS
Flow cytometric analysis was used to count the numbers of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ cells and cytometric bead array CBA capture technique was used to quantify plasma IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma concentrations. Twenty-three patients with occupational chronic lead poisoning and 20 controls were examined.


RESULTS
Compared with control group, CD3+ CD4+ lymphocytes and CD4/CD8 ratios decreased in patients with occupational chronic lead poisoning. The plasma IL-2 level were significantly raised while the IL-10 and IFN-gamma were reduced in patients with occupational chronic lead poisoning.


CONCLUSIONS
T lymphocyte subsets and plasma Th1/Th2 cytokine levels could be a new parameter to assess lead immunotoxicity.
Chen
Jia-yu
JY
Department of Internal Medicine, Guangzhou Municipal Twelfth People's Hospital, Guangzhou 510620, China.
Yu
Wei
W
Liu
Wei-wei
WW
Luo
Ying
Y
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
D016207:Cytokines