Effect of Changes of T Lymphocytic Subsets and Immunoglobulin on Bronchial Asthma in Children

Objective To study the effect of changes of T cell subsets and immunoglobulin on the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma in children. Methods Using ELISA, directed SPA, and simple immunodiffusion techniques, we measured T cell subsets and immunoglobulin levels in 30 asthmatic children and in 20 normal subjects. Results In the control group the values of CD 3 +, CD 4 + and CD 8 + were 72.38 ± 8.19% , 45.48 ± 4.27% and 31.29 ± 4.02% , respectively, and the CD 4 +/CD 8 + ratio was 1.28 ± 0.23 . Asthmatic children had decreased CD 3 + ( 67.15 ± 7.16% vs 72.38 ± 8.19% ) and CD 8 + T subsets ( 26.56 ± 2.18% vs. 31.29 ± 4.02% ) (P 0.01 ), but an apparent increase in the CD 4/CD 8 ratio ( 1.51 ± 0.44 ) (P 0.05 ) compared with the normal children. In the control group, the levels of IgG, IgA, IgM and IgE were 10.67 ± 2.53 g/L, 1.18 ± 0.69 g/L, 1.60 ± 0.54 g/L and 178±30 IU, respectively. IgE levels (386±154 IU) in the cases of asthma were significantly higher than those in the control subjects (P 0.01 ). Both IgM ( 1.29 ± 0.41 g/L) and IgG ( 9.35 ± 2.26 g/L) levels were statistically lower than those of the normal children (P 0.01 and 0.05 , respectively). Conclusions In children with asthma changes in immunoglobulin levels may result from a dysfunction and (or) an inadequate number of T suppressor lymphocytes. [