ABSTRACT
Objective To study the changes and significance of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells and C-reactive protein(CRP) in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD). Methods Flow cytometry was used to detect the frequency of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in peripheral blood from 36 patients with acute exacerbation of COPD( COPD group) and 36 patients with clinical stability of COPD(control group one)and 36 normal individuals(control group two). The level of CRP was detected routinely. Results The ratio of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells number in peripheral blood of COPD group to the total number of CD4+T cell was (2.56±1.83 )%, and it was significantly decreased compared to the other two groups (P all<0.01 ). The level of CRP in COPD group was markedly higher than that in the other two groups (P all<0.01 ). The level of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in patients with acute exacerbation of COPD had negative relation with CRP. Conclusions CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells participate in inflammatory response. The proportion of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells decreases in patients with acute exacerbation of COPD, and it may result in maladjustment of cytoimmunity.