title: [Measurement of Rho-kinase and CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in the peripheral blood in asthmatic patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the levels of Rho-kinase and CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in patients with asthma, and the relationship between Rho-kinase and CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included 16 patients with moderate to severe asthma in the research group and 14 healthy people as the control group. The levels of Rho-kinase in the 2 groups were measured by ELISA. The level of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in the 2 groups was measured by flow cytometry. The pulmonary function was measured by spirometer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The level of Rho-kinase in the research group was higher than that in the healthy controls (P<0.05). The level of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in the healthy controls was higher than that of the research group (P<0.05). There was no correlation between the level of Rho-kinase in the peripheral blood of the 2 groups and forced expiratiory volume at the first second/ forced vital capacity (FEV1%) (r=-0.491, P>0.05). The level of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in the peripheral blood of the 2 groups showed a positive correlation with FEV1% (r=0.380, P=0.038). There was no correlation between the level of Rho-kinase and the level of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in the peripheral blood of the 2 groups (r=-0.438, P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rho-kinase and CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells may play a key role in the pathogenesis of asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.
authors.forename: Xiaojie
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Hongzhi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Shangjie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000166:cytology*; D014797:Vital Capacity; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D054460:rho-Associated Kinases