شوقي عبد العزيز ذكى Shawky Abd Elaziz ZakiAin ShamsMedicinePediatrics Master 2009
Study The Role of Natural Killer T Cells in Asthmatic Children.
The aim of the present study is to search for correlation between the circulating natural killer T cells and bronchial asthma in children, and the role of NKT cells in asthmatic children.
The present study was conducted on 49 Egyptian children who attended the Pediatric Chest and Out patient Clinic in Ain Shams University Pediatric Hospital, They were 26 males and 23 females as case and control study.
They were divided into two groups:
Group (1) Asthmatic children:
It included 29 children, 15males and 14 females. Their ages ranged from 4-16 years with a mean value 9.09±2.5 years.
Group (2) Healthy controls:
This group included 20 healthy children age sex matched, 11males and 9 females. Their ages range from 4-15 years, with mean value of 8.06 ±2.1.
Accordingly Group (1) was classified according to GINA (2007) guidelines into 4 subgroups: intermittent, mild, moderate severe.
1-Intermittent asthmatic children:
Included 7 children, 5 males and 2 females, their ages ranged from 5-14 years with a mean value of 8.57±2.8 years.
2-Mild persistent:
Included 7 children, 3 males and 4 females, their ages ranged from 7-14 years with a mean value of 10±2.1 years.
2-Moderate persistent:
Included 13 children, 7 males and 6 females, their ages ranged from 4-16 years with a mean value of 10±2.4 years.
2- Severe persistent:
Included 2 children, 1 male and 1 female, their ages ranged from 12-16 years with a mean value of 14±1.4 years.
*All children were s subjected to the following:
(I) -Clinical assessment:
Full history taking and thorough clinical examination.
II)- Investigations:)
1)- Pulmonary function tests.
2)-CBC (Complete Blood Count).
3)-Differentioal count .
4)-Assessment of NKT cells by Vα24 antibody by flowcytometry .
The results of this study showed that; a statistically significant reduced mean values of absolute natural killer T cells in asthmatic children.
A statistically significant higher mean values of absolute esinophil cells in asthmatic children.
A statistically significant increased mean values of absolute esinophil cells in asthmatic children than controls, and increased mean according to severity subgroups of asthmatic cases.
A statistically significant reduced mean values of FVC, FEV1 and FEV ratio in asthmatic children, while no statistically significant difference in mean FEF25-75% in comparison to controls was present.
A significant reduction of FVC in severe subgroup compared to other subgroups. While intermittent and mild
show non significant difference compared to moderate subgroups.
A significant reduction of FEV1 in severe subgroup compared to other subgroups. While intermittent and mild show non significant difference compared to moderate subgroups.
A positive correlation between total leucocytes count and absolute count of eosinophil cells in blood in cases group.
A positive correlation between FEV1% and absolute count of NKT cells in blood in cases group.
A positive correlation between FEV1% and NKT % of WBCs in blood in cases group.
A negative correlation between FEV1% and absolute count of eosinophil cells in blood in cases group.”