Changes of CD4+CD25+regulatory T cells and lymphocyte subsets in children with Kawasaki disease undergoing intravenous immunoglobulin treatment

ZHENG Lijun; ZHANG Shuping; WU Meng

doi:10.13431/j.cnki.immunol.j.20170173

Abstract：This study was performed to investigate the changes of CD4+CD25+regulatory T cells (Tregs) and lymphocyte subsets in children with Kawasaki disease (KD) undergoing intravenous immunoglobulin(IVIG) treatment.The percentages of CD4+CD25+ Tregs in 40 children with KD and 30 healthy controls were detected using flow cytometry,as did the levels of lymphocyte subsets in 108 children with KD and 41 healthy controls.Plasma level of TGF-β1 in each patient was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Data showed that the percentages of CD4 + CD25 + Treg cells and TGF-β1 in KD were significantly lower than those in healthy volunteers,as did the levels of CD3+,CD8+ T and NK cells.However,the levels of CD4+ T,B cells and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ were significantly higher in KD children compared with healthy volunteers (both P＜0.01).Compared with prior treatment of IVIG,the levels of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells,TGF-β1,CD3+,CD8+T and NK cells were obviously increased after treatment (both P＜0.05),while the levels of CD4+ T,B cells and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ were significantly decreased (both P＜0.05).Moreover,the percentages of post treatment CD4 + CD25 + Treg cells,TGF-β1 and lymphocyte subsets in KD children were similar to those observed in healthy controls.Our study suggests that the percentages of CD4+CD25+Treg cells and lymphocyte subsets could be key factors in monitoring the immune dysfunction of KD children.And the CD4+ CD25 + regulatory T cells and lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood of KD children is significant to evaluate the cellular immune function of KD children,and helpful to the clinical diagnosis and therapy.