Roles of GITR/GITRL signal system expression at bloodstream lymphocytes in children with asthma

Abstract

Objective To investigate the expression of blood CD4+CD25+Treg GITR, CD4+ T cell GITRL in children with asthma, and the role of them in asthmatic inflammation. Methods 50 cases of severe asthma were selected, and were controlled with thirty two healthy children.The venous blood was collected both in the period of acute episode and clinic remission.The mean fluorescence intensity of CD4+CD25+Treg GITR and CD4+ T cell GITRL was detected by flow cytometry. Results The expression of CD4+CD25+Treg GITR in the asthma acute period group was (24.2±8.2)MFI, which was significantly lower than (28.5±6.0)MFI in the control group(t=2.5, P 0.05). Moreover, the expression of CD4+CD25+Treg GITR in the asthma in remission group after treatment was (29.5±8.3)MFI, which was significantly higher than that in acute period group before treatment(t=-9.9, P 0.05). Furthermore, there was no significant correlation between levels of CD4+CD25+Treg GITR and CD4+ T cell GITRL. Conclusion The level of CD4+CD25+Treg GITR in acute period asthmatic patients was decreased, but it was increased in remission, but no changes of CD4+ T cell GITRL expression were observed.GITR/GITRL signal system might be involved in the asthmatic inflammation procession. Key words: Asthma; T lymphocytes; Receptor, tumor necrosis factor; Signal transduction