T-cell subsets in asthmatic children.

Using monoclonal antibodies authors determined the percentage of CD2(+)-, CD4(+)- and CD8(+)-lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of 45 asthmatic children. In 38 subjects asthma was reaginic, while in 7 it was nonreaginic. The aim of the study was to detect an abnormality which might contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease. A correlation test was done to assess the association of the above-mentioned percentages with the serum IgE level and the duration of the illness. The percentage of CD2(+)-lymphocytes and CD4+ lymphocytes does not differ significantly among the patient groups themselves nor in relation to healthy children. The percentage of CD8(+)-lymphocytes in asthmatic children, particularly in the group with reaginic asthma, is significantly lower (P < 0.01) than in healthy children. A significant negative correlation (P < 0.05) was found between the percentage of CD8(+)-cells and the serum IgE level in asthmatics. There was no significant correlation between the CD2(+)-lymphocyte and CD(4+)-lymphocyte percentages and the serum IgE level, nor between any of examined percentages and the duration of the illness. The authors conclude that, in children with reaginic asthma, a primarily lower percentage of CD8(+)-lymphocytes, which bear a suppressor function, may be one of the causes for over-production of IgE and is therefore an important factor in the pathogenesis of the illness.