[The study of T helper cell subsets and relationship to relative cytokines and ventilatory function in asthmatic patients].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the changes of T helper cell(TH) subsets and relationship to the relative cytokines, serum total IgE, eosinophil count and ventilatory function in asthmatic patients.

METHODS

20 asthmatic patients and 10 healthy subjects were selected. The counts of the TH subsets, the level of IL-4 and IFN-gamma in the supernatant of peripheral blood mononuclear cell(PBMC), serum total IgE concentration and eosinophil count in peripheral blood were determined in acute attack and stable patients with asthma and healthy subjects.

RESULTS

The TH2/TH1 ratio in the acute attack and the stable patients with asthma were increased significantly, compared with that in normal group (P < 0.01). The relation analysis showed that the value of TH1 had significantly positive relation with that of IFN-gamma, the value of TH2 had significantly positive relation with that of IL-4. The total serum IgE had significantly positive relation with the level of IL-4. FEV1 had significantly positive relation with that of TH1, negative relation with that of TH2, and TH2/TH1 significantly. The total serum IgE and the number of eosinophils had significantly positive relation with that of TH2.

CONCLUSION

The balance of TH in asthmatic patients deviates significantly. The deviation of balance of TH has relation with severity of asthma.