title: Increased Frequency of Th17 Cells in Children With Mycoplasma pneumoniae Pneumonia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae, MP) is recognized globally as a significant cause of primary atypical pneumonia in humans, particularly in children. Overzealous host immune responses are viewed as key mediators of the pathogenesis of M. pneumoniae infection. Although Th17 cells have been identified as key modulators in the clearance of pathogens and induction of autoimmunity caused by excessive immune responses, little is known about the role of Th17 cells in patients with M. pneumoniae infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  The percentages of T cells, CD4+T cells and Th17 cells in children with M. pneumoniae infection were measured by flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We documented an increased frequency of Th17 cells in children with M. pneumoniae infection. Furthermore, we found a significantly higher percentage of Th17 cells in M. pneumoniae-infected children with extrapulmonary manifestations, compared with children without extrapulmonary manifestations. In addition, patients who experienced a short course of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) showed an increase in the percentage of Th17 cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that Th17 cells may be involved in the clearance of M. pneumoniae during an acute infection. Excessive Th17 cell responses may also contribute to the immuno-pathological damage observed during persistent infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Blood Transfusion, Nanjing Children's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, China.
authors.forename: Xiaowei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathogen Biology & Immunology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, China.
authors.forename: Xiaojun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory, Nanjing Children's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, China.
authors.forename: Heng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathogen Biology & Immunology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, China.
authors.forename: Jifeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathogen Biology & Immunology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, China.
authors.forename: Sha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathogen Biology & Immunology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, China.
authors.forename: Zhipeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathogen Biology & Immunology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathogen Biology & Immunology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, China. chuan_su@126.com, chuansu@njmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Chuan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Su
mesh_terms: D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009177:Mycoplasma pneumoniae / Q000472:pathogenicity; D011019:Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / Q000473:pathology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: 
  Mycoplasma Pneumoniae
  ; Th17 cells; children; respiratory infection