Interleukin-2 receptor positive T and B cells in children with acute severe asthmatic attack

Subpopulations of interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R)-positive CD4 and CD8 T cells and IL-2R⁺ CD20 B cells in the peripheral blood lymphocytes as well as serum concentrations of soluble IL-2R (sIL2R) were measured in children aged 1–7 years who suffered acute severe asthmatic attack. Subpopulations of CD4⁺ IL-2R⁺ cells, CD8⁺ IL-2R⁺ cells and CD20⁺ IL-2R⁺ cells in the peripheral blood lymphocytes at acute severe asthmatic attack phase were significantly higher than those at non-asthmatic attack phase (P < 0.02, P < 0.03 and P < 0.02, respectively).

Subpopulations of CD20⁺ IL-2R⁺ cells in the peripheral blood lymphocytes significantly decreased 5–10 days after acute severe asthmatic attack (at recovery phase, P < 0.02) and were significantly correlated with clinical severity of asthmatic attack (P < 0.05).

These results indicated that activation of both T cells and B cells was important in the pathogenesis of acute asthmatic attack in young children.