The clinical significance of T-cell subset, cytokine levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of children with mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia

Objective To explore the levels and clinical significances of T-cell subset, interleukin(IL)-6, interferon(IFN)-γ, and monocyte chemotactic protein(MCP)-1 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) of children with mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia(MPP). Methods Thirty-six children with pneumonia were admitted in our hospital from October 2014 to March 2016.They were divided into refractory mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (RMPP) group (n=18) and MPP group(n=18). Sixteen cases with bronchial foreign body were selected as the control group.The levels of IL-6, MCP-1, IFN-γ and T-cell subset in BALF were detected by ELISA and alkaline phosphatase-anti-alkaline phosphatase(APAAP) bridging enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Results (1)The levels of CD3+ and CD8+ T cells in BALF of MPP group and RMPP group were higher than those in the control group (P 0.05). (2) The level of IL-6 in acute phase of RMPP group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). The levels of IL-6 in acute phase of RMPP group and MPP group were both higher than that in recovery period (P<0.05, respectively). (3)The levels of IFN-γ in the acute phase of RMPP group and MPP group were higher than that in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The IFN-γ levels in acute and recovery phases of RMPP group were both significantly higher than those in MPP group respectively(P< 0.05). (4)The level of MCP-1 in BALF in control group was lower than those in the acute phase of RMPP group and MPP group(P<0.05). The level of MCP-1 in RMPP acute group was significantly higher than that in MPP acute group, and higher in acute phase than those in recovery phase both in two groups(P<0.05). Conclusion There are cell immune regulation and function disorders when children are infected mycoplasma pneumoniae.IL-6, IFN-γ and MCP-1 may participate in the pathogenesis of MPP, and more importantly, IFN-γ and MCP-1 may be the important indicator to forecast the severity of MPP. Key words: Mycoplasma pnuemoniae; Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid; T-cell subset; Cytokine,