title: [Changes in T lymphocyte subsets and plasma Th1/Th2 cytokine levels in patients with occupational chronic lead poisoning].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Guangzhou Municipal Twelfth People's Hospital, Guangzhou 510620, China.
authors.forename: Jia-yu
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Wei-wei
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Luo
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines