Study of T-cell subpopulations defined by monoclonal antibodies in asthmatic children with or without atopic eczema and normals.

The distributions of OKT4+ cells (helper/inducer T cells) and OKT8+ cells (suppressor/cytotoxic T cells) were studied in 47 house dust sensitive asthmatic children with or without atopic eczema and 26 normals. When purified T cell population was studied, the percentage of OKT4+ cells was lower in patients than that in normals before allergen challenge but this difference disappeared after antigen stimulation. In addition, the percentage of OKT4+ cells was decreased in patients with atopic eczema. In contrast, when unfractionated mononuclear cells were studied, no difference in OKT4+ cells and OKT8+ cells was found between patients and normals, irrespective of antigenic stimulation, but the OKT8+ cells were markedly increased in both normals and patients after allergen challenge. The immunopathogenic implication of decreased OKT4+ cells in allergic patients is discussed.