Abstract:
Objective
To analyze the expression levels of peripheral regulatory T cells and helper T cells in asthma children at stage of attack.
Methods
Totally 55 children with bronchial asthma treated in Shenyang Children's Hospital from Oct. 2016 to Dec. 2016 were chosen as the research subjects. According to the TCM syndrome type, they were divided into two groups: 26 in cold type asthma group and 29 in heat type asthma group. Another 28 children who were healthy on the physical examination during the same period were included as the control group. All the three groups of children received determination of the expression level of regulatory T cells(CD4 CD25+ Treg and CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ Treg) and helper T cells(CD4+,CD8+ and CD4+/CD8+).
Results
CD4 CD25+ Treg and CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ Treg expression level of peripheral blood in cold and heat type asthma group was significantly lower than that in the control group. At the same time, CD4 CD25+ Treg and CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ Treg expression level of peripheral blood in cold type asthma group was significantly lower than that in heat asthma group(P<0.05). CD4+ expression level of peripheral blood in cold and heat type asthma group was significantly higher than that in the control group, but CD8+ expression level and CD4+/CD8+ ratio of peripheral blood were significantly lower than those in the control group. At the same time, CD4+ and CD8+ expression level in cold type asthma  group was significantly lower than that in the heat type asthma group(P<0.05).
Conclusion
Regulatory T cells and helper T cells of peripheral blood have abnormal expression in cold and heat type asthma children，and the abnormal expression becomes more obvious in the cold type asthma group.

Key words: Bronchial asthma, Cold and heat type asthma, Regulatory T cells, Helper T cell, Child