[Polarization and immune regulation of TH cells in children with bronchial asthma].

OBJECTIVE: To study the polarization and immune regulation of TH cells in patients with bronchial asthma.

METHODS: Thirty-eight hospitalized children with bronchial asthma (ranging from 4-12 years old) and 29 age-matched healthy children (Control group) were enrolled in this study. Serum IL-2 and IFN-gamma levels were detected using ELISA. The percentage of TH1 and TH2 cells was detected by intracellular staining.

RESULTS: The serum levels of IL-2 (15.94 +/- 3.07 microg/L) and IFN-gamma (487.2 +/- 43.6 pg/mL ) in asthmatic patients were significantly lower than those in the Control group (24.73 +/- 4.37 microg/L and 654.07 +/- 14.64 pg/mL respectively; P < 0.01). The percentage of TH1 in asthmatic patients decreased significantly compared with that in the Control group [(11.24 +/- 2.43)% vs (16.67 +/- 2.73)%; P < 0.01]; in contrast, the percentage of TH2 increased compared with that in the Control group [(19.85 +/- 4.46)% vs (16.08 +/- 6.17)%; P < 0.05].

CONCLUSIONS: The serum levels of IL-2 and IFN-gamma, and the number of TH1 cells decreased in asthmatic patients. The decreased number of TH1 cells and the ratio of TH1/TH2 suggest an abnormal polarization of TH1 and TH2 cells. The changes may be associated with the inhibition of cellular immune function in asthmatic patients.