Detection of T lymphocyte subsets of children with Helicobacter pylori infection

AIM: To study the transformation of T lymphocyte subsets in children with Heliobacter pylori (H pylori) infection. METHODS: The H pylori infection status were determined by a combination of ELISA and Western blot (immunoblot) technique in 98 children and T lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood were determined by flow cytometrical analysis.RESULTS: There were 75 children positive with H pylori infection and 23 negative in 98 children. Comparing the proportion of peripheral blood T lymphocytic subsets in children with H pylori infection and without H pylori infection, it was found that a higher proportion of CD4 T-cells in infected children (39.02±7.71 vs34.25±10.73,t = 2.246,P＜0.05) and higher value of CD4 to CD8 T-cells ratio (1.51±0.52 vs 1.25, t= 2.104,P＜0.05) were present, but there were not significant differences in CD3 T-cells and CD8 T-cells (73.11±10.02 vs69.49±17.08, 27.22±6.07vs 28.27±8.67, P＞0.05).CONCLUSION: Th1 cell-mediated immune responses may be induced by H pylori infection in children.