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Peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in children with frequent upper respiratory tract infections

Tanil Kendirli1, Aydan Ikincioğullari, Figen Doğu

  • 1Department of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.

The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics
|March 28, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Frequent upper respiratory tract infections in children can alter cellular immunity. While lymphocyte subsets generally remain normal, increased CD3+CD8+ T cells and NK cells indicate immune response to infections.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Pediatrics
  • Cellular Biology

Background:

  • Infants and preschool children frequently experience upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs).
  • Most children with recurrent URTIs do not have underlying immunodeficiency.
  • Understanding the impact of URTIs on cellular immunity is crucial for pediatric health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effects of frequent URTIs on cellular immunity in children.
  • To analyze peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets and activation markers in children with recurrent URTIs.
  • To determine if URTIs lead to significant alterations in immune cell populations.

Main Methods:

  • Study included 16 children (2-6 years) with frequent URTIs and 30 age-matched healthy controls.
  • Peripheral blood samples were analyzed using flow cytometry and monoclonal antibodies.
  • Key parameters included T, B, NK cells, T lymphocyte subsets, naive/memory cells, and activation markers.

Main Results:

  • White blood cell (WBC) count and absolute lymphocyte numbers were higher in the URTI group.
  • Increased relative CD3+CD8+ T lymphocytes and NK cells (CD3-CD16+56+) were observed.
  • CD3+CD25+ cell numbers were significantly elevated, indicating immune activation.

Conclusions:

  • Frequent URTIs in children can induce specific cellular immune alterations, notably increased CD3+CD8+ T and NK cells.
  • While informative for understanding immune response, routine analysis of lymphocyte subsets is not essential or cost-effective for managing frequent URTIs.
  • The study suggests that overall lymphocyte subset percentages and numbers remain largely normal despite recurrent infections.

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