CD4+CCR6+CRTH2+Memory Th2 cells are associated with asthma but not with AD or AR, especially in atopic children
To investigate whether memory Th2 cells can distinguish children with or without asthma, CD4+CCR6+CRTH2+memory Th2 cells were measured in all children at time of inclusion and the results were used to correlate with diagnosis after the 2-year follow-up. In wheezing children diagnosed with asthma, the level of peripheral blood CD4+CCR6+CRTH2+was 1.2%(0.8%~2.9%), while the level in children without asthma was 0.6%(0.1%~0.9%).There was a significant difference in the level of CD4+CCR6+CRTH2+memory Th2 cells at inclusion in children with asthma compared with the non-asthma group (P<0.01) (Table 3). In atopic children(any history of AD or AR), the level of peripheral blood CD4+CCR6+CRTH2+was 1.3%(0.8%~2.9%), while the level in children without asthma was 0.6%(0.3%~1.0%).There was a significant difference in the level of CD4+CCR6+CRTH2+memory Th2 cells at inclusion in children with asthma compared with the non-asthma group (P<0.01) (Table 3).
Because asthma is primarily a pulmonary manifestation of systemic allergic reaction, we further explored the relationship between the level of CD4+CCR6+CRTh2+memory Th2 cells and allergic diseases such as AR and AD. There was no significant difference in the level of CD4+CCR6+CRTh2+cells between the AR group and the non-AR group(P>0.05), as well as between the AD group and the non-AD group(P>0.05,Table 3).