[Changes of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells, IL-10 and TGF-beta1 levels in peripheral blood in children with asthma].
OBJECTIVE
This study determined the changes of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells, IL-10 and TGF-beta1 levels in peripheral blood in children with asthma in order to explore immunologic mechanism of asthma attacks.


METHODS
Seventy-four children with asthma attacks, twenty-eight children with stable asthma and twenty healthy children were enrolled. The percentage of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in CD4+ T cells in peripheral blood was detected by flow cytometry. Serum levels of IL-10 and TGF-beta1 were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).


RESULTS
The percentage of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells and IL-10 levels in peripheral blood in the asthma attacks group were significantly lower than those in the stable asthma and the control groups (p<0.01) .The stable asthma group showed a similar percentage of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells and IL-10 levels to the control group. Compared with the stable asthma and the control groups, serum TGF-beta1 level in the asthma attacks group increased significantly (p<0.05). In the asthma attacks, the stable asthma, and the control groups, the percentage of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in peripheral blood was not correlated to serum levels of IL-10 and TGF-beta1.


CONCLUSIONS
The percentage of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in peripheral blood and serum IL-10 levels decrease and serum TGF-beta1 levels increases in children with asthma attacks, which results in a decreased immunosuppressive effect. This might contribute to one of the immunologic mechanisms of asthma attacks.
Li
Min
M
Department of Pediatrics, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Province People's Hospital, Chengdu 610072, China. lmscsy@yahoo.com.cn
Song
Li
L
Zhang
Jian-Bo
JB
Fang
Jun
J
Li
Lan
L
D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000097:blood*
D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D016753:Interleukin-10