[Study on T cell subsets and their activated molecules from the convalescent SARS patients during two follow-up surveys].

AIM: To explore the changes of peripheral blood T cell subsets and their activated molecules in convalescent SARS patients.

METHODS: In two follow-up surveys of the SARS patients discharged from our hospital, the changes of CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+), CD8(+) CD28(+), CD8(+) CD28(-), CD3(+) CD25(+), CD3(+) CD69(+), CD3(+) HLA-DR(+)T cells and the ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+) T cells in peripheral blood of SARS patients treated unitedly with Chinese and Western medicines were detected by flow cytometry.

RESULTS: In two follow-up surveys, the percentages of CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+) CD28(+) T cells and the ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+) T cells were remarkably lower than those of normal values(P<0.05), while the percentage of CD8(+) CD28 (-) T cells was higher(P<0.01). As for the percentages of CD3(+), CD8(+), CD4(+)/CD8(+), CD3(+) CD25(+), CD3(+) CD69(+) and CD3(+) HLA-DR(+) T cells, there was marked difference between 1st and 2nd follow-up results, but for other molecules there was no notable difference.

CONCLUSION: The convalescent SARS patients' immune function gradually recovers, and the effect of SARS virus on activation of T cells gradually disappears.