Charakterisierung und Quantifizierung von Lymphozyten-Subpopulationen bei Kindern und Jugendlichen mit allergischen Erkrankungen

In this study the immunocytological profiles of 56 children (31 children with allergic diseases and 25 control patients) were analysed in order to compare quantitative differences between healthy and allergic children, as well as to collect reference values of maturing healthy children aged 1-17. Within this experimental data collection, immunological cell populations from peripheral blood samples were identified and quantified by FACS-analysis. Significant differences between allergic and healthy children were found in respect to Th17-cells, memory effector T-helper-cells, memory Th2-cells and myeloid dendritic cells type 2. Higher quantities of these cell populations were found in patients suffering from allergic Rhinoconjunctivitis and from allergic Asthma bronchiale, only children with allergic asthma bronchiale had higher amounts of myeloid dendritic cells type 2. Children suffering from food allergies or atopic dermatitis did not show the above mentioned differences in the T-Lymphocyte-Compartment. In addition, significantly higher numbers of these cell populations were found in the group with partially controlled allergic Asthma bronchiale compared to controlled allergic Asthma bronchiale, suggesting an association between disease severity and number of specific immune cell populations. Together, these results suggest a possible role of Th17-cells, memory effector T-helper-cells, memory Th2-cells and myeloid dendritic cells type 2 in the pathogenesis of allergic Rhinokonjunctivitis and allergic Asthma bronchiale. While the amount of Memory Th2 cells again underlines the Th2-driven immunological reaction, the immunological function and possible relevance especially for Th17-cells and myeloid dendritic cells type 2, remains to be defined. Furthermore new reference values could be obtained for known and recently identified subsets of lymphocytes in children without allergic diseases. These data sets can be used as basic clinical data for further research.