[Changes of the immune cells, cytokines and growth hormone in teenager drug addicts].

Aim: To investigate the effect of heroin on the immune function, growth and development in the teenager heroin addicts by measuring their T-lymphocyte subsets, Th1/Th2 cytokines and serum growth hormone.

Methods: Tlymphocyte subsets of peripheral blood from the teenager heroin addicts were measured by direct microvolume whole blood immunofluorescent staining technique by flow cytometer (FCM). Thl / Th2 cytokines were measured by BD cytometric bead array and serum growth hormone was assayed using the chemiluminescence method in the 20 teenager heroin addicts and 23 healthy teenagers.

Results: The levels of CD3(+), CD3(+) + CD4(+), CD3(+) + CD4(+)/CD3(+)+ CD8(+), Th1 cytokines(IL-2, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma) and Th2 cytokines(IL-4 and IL-10) reduced significantly in the teenager heroin addicts compared with the healthy control group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). The level of Th1 cytokines(IL-2 + TNF-alpha+IFN-gamma) decreased more than that of Th2 cytokines(IL-4 + IL-5 + IL-10)(P < 0.05). The level of serum growth hormone from the teenager heroin addicts was remarkably higher than that in control group (P<0.01).

Conclusion: Heroin can inhibit the immunofunction especially the celluar immunity of the teenager heroin addicts. Besides, it can increase the level of serum growth hormone of the teenager heroin addicts.