title: [Changes in lymphocyte subsets and serum IFN-γ levels in children with toxoplasma infection].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the changes and significance of lymphocyte sunsets and serum interferon-γ (IFN-γ) levels in children with toxoplasma infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four children who were newly diagnosed with toxoplasma infection (TOX-IgM+ group) between January 2011 and April 2014, 12 children who had ever been diagnosed with toxoplasma infection (TOX-IgG+ group), and 54 healthy children (control group) were enrolled. The percentages of CD4+, CD8+, CD19+ and NK cells in peripheral blood lymphocytes were detected by flow cytometry. Serum levels of IFN-γ were measured using ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentages of CD4+ cells and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio in the TOX-IgM+ group were significantly lower than in the TOX-IgG+ and control groups, while the percentages of CD8+ and NK cells and serum IFN-γ levels were significantly higher than in the other two groups (P<0.05). The TOX-IgG+ group had higher serum IFN-γ levels than the control group (P<0.05). There was a positive correlation between the percentage of CD8+ cells and serum IFN-γ levels in the TOX-IgM+ group (r=0.756; P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CD4+, CD8+ and NK cells may play important roles in the resistance against toxoplasma infection by promoting the secretion of cytokines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Shaoxing Central Hospital, Shaoxing, Zhejiang 312030, China. Sxfcw2123@126.com.
authors.forename: Hai-Jun
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Chun-Qin
authors.initials: CQ
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Cai-Wen
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Fang
mesh_terms: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007371:Interferon-gamma