[The expression of CD95 and activated antigens in peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in patients with hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD)].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the expression of CD95 and special marker for activation of peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD) and its significance.

METHODS

Immunofluorescent two-color flow cytometry was used to study the expression of CD95 and HLA-DR on lymphocytes in 58 patients with HFMD and 34 normal controls.

RESULTS

Expression of CD3+ T cells was significantly lower in patients (63.82 +/- 7.74)% than that in controls (P < 0.001), meanwhile the expression of CD4+ T cells was (34.29 +/- 7.33)%, significantly lower than that of the controls (P < 0.005). The percentage of lymphocytes expressing HLA-DR in patients was (23.77 +/- 5.78)%, significantly higher than that of the controls (P < 0.005). Significant difference was observed in the expression of HLA- DR on CD8+ T cells in patients (1.34 +/- 1.12)% as compared with controls (P < 0.005). No significant difference in the expression of CD95 on lymphocytes was observed between patients and the controls (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The findings support that cellular immunodeficiency exists in patients and that lymphocytes were abnormally activated in the patients. The activation of peripheral blood T lymphocytes in patients mainly involves CD8 subset and it may play an important role in the immune response to antiviral infection.