Expression of T helper cell 1/2 cytokines in children with human metapenu-movirus induced infection and its role in the pathogenesis of asthma

Sun Wei; Zhou Liang; Zhang Lei; Zhou Jianwei; Yan Zhihui; Dong Weiran

doi:10.3760/j.issn.1673-4777.2025.06.006

Abstract：Objective To investigate the expression of T helper cell 1(Th1)/Th2 cytokines in children with human metapenu-movirus(hMPV)induced infection and its role in the pathogenesis of asthma.Methods The clinical data of 245 children with hMPV induced infection who were admitted to Hebei Children's Hospital from February 2023 to March 2024 were retrospectively analyzed.According to the severity of the disease,the children were divided into mild group(170 cases)and severe group(75 cases).The general data of the children were collected,and airway inflammation indicators,lung function indicators and Th1/Th2 cytokine levels were detected.Multiple linear regression model was used to analyze the correlation between Th1/Th2 cytokine levels and airway inflammatory factors.Binary Logistic regression model was used to analyze the risk factors for asthma in children with hMPV infection.Results The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-4(IL-4),IL-6 and CD8+T lymphocytes in the severe group were higher than those in the mild group,and the levels of IL-10,γ-interferon,CD3+T lymphocytes,CD4+T lymphocytes,forced expiratory volume in 1 second(FEV1),forced vital capacity(FVC)and FEV1/FVC ratio in the severe group were lower than those in the mild group(all P＜0.05).Among the 245 children,58 were diagnosed with asthma(asthma group)and 187 without asthma(non-asthma group).The levels of TNF-α,IL-4,IL-6 and CD8+T lymphocytes in the asthma group were significantly higher than those in the non-asthma group,and the levels of IL-10,γ-interferon,CD3+T lymphocytes,CD4+T lymphocytes,FEV1,FVC and FEV1/FVC ratios in the asthma group were lower than those in the non-asthma group(all P＜0.05).The results of binary logistic regression model analysis showed that higher levels of TNF-α,IL-4,IL-6 and CD8+T lymphocytes,and lower levels of IL-10,γ-interferon,CD3+T lymphocytes,CD4+T lympho-cytes,FEV1,FVC and FEV1/FVC ratios were independent risk factors for asthma in children with hMPV infection(all P＜0.05).CD3+T lymphocytes were negatively correlated with IL-4 and IL-6,CD4+T lymphocytes were negatively correlated with IL-6 and positively correlated with IL-10,and CD8+T lymphocytes were positively correlated with IL-4 and IL-6 and negatively correlated with IL-10(all P＜0.05).Conclusion There are more obvious abnormal changes in Th1/Th2 cytokine levels in children with asthma caused by hMPV induced infection,and the levels of Th1/Th2 cytokines are closely related to the severity of the disease in children.The detection of Th1/Th2 cytokine levels can be used to predict the attack of asthma in children with hMPV induced infection.